4.5/5

Signa Farrow has had death follow her around, being an 19-year-old orphan and having her each of her guardians mysteriously pass away. After her aunt's death, Signa is sent to Thorn Grove and living with her relatives, the Hawthornes. Quickly, Signa notices that spirits haunt the house and realizes that her aunt Lillian might not have only died, but been poisoned. The only thing she desires to be a proper lady in society - and waiting for her inheritance couldn't come any sooner. She is pulled into solving her aunt's death, but with true Death always lingering nearby, Signa is running out of time to help save her cousin, Blythe, who is slowly dying from a mysterious illness.

Belladonna captured my attention from the very first page! I loved the stylistic, gothic writing which made the world atmospheric and very easy to fall into. The pacing was perfect to highlight the intrigue and murder mystery - it was fun to follow Signa find out clues while learning of her growing powers from Death himself. She is able to see spirits, unable to die, and to kill with her touch.

The upbringing of Signa isn't usual and it is evident when she's navigating high society with its tea parties, gossip, and balls. I really didn't care for this aspect of the book, but it does play into Signa's dream to be a normal girl and live as what society deems to be the ideal. I definitely loved the murder mystery <i>a lot</i> more than the socialization of Signa. Although, Signa wasn't the best detective ever, but she is only 19 years old dealing with little sleep and hunting down answers only she can find.

Signa is a girl who hasn't had the best of luck in her early life, but she's hopeful at Thorn Grove. She's determined to go by society's rules and quickly understands that she would much rather embrace who she is. Her relationship with Death is unique - he is mysterious and charming and gives off the whole lonely immortal vibes - which develops in a way that I was presently surprised by. It didn't feel forced, but natural, of two lonely people who comes together in the strangest of circumstances. I was highlighting so many brilliant quotes throughout their interactions. Their romance was something I wanted from Luc and Addie LaRue.

Side characters were fleshed out as well: I wished for Blythe to get well and Elijah to find peace. I questioned each character's intentions and wasn't sure who to believe was innocent or not - I was surprised by the twists near the ending. There is a little cliffhanger, but that didn't bother me much as I thoroughly enjoyed Belladonna and the teaser for the sequel makes me excited to see what Signa and Death will be up to next!

"Death is only a reprieve for the dead, Mr. Thorly. It cares little for those it leaves behind."

Death has followed Signa Farrow her whole life, killing off her guardians one by one. When she finally decides to confront Death, she realizes she may hold some of his power. She must learn quickly how to use these new gifts as the extended family she is sent to stay with is being haunted by a recent death and one that may be coming in the near future.

Y’all I just can’t shut up about this book. I feel like Belladonna has a little bit of everything:
- a murder mystery
- ghosts
- a touch of magic
- (monster?) romance
- regency era vibes
- Death™️ and Fate™️
- a gothic mansion
- The Secret Garden vibes

Adalyn Grace writes in lush descriptive prose. I wanted to fall into this story. The author also sets the perfect dark, gothic, and opulent atmosphere to make everything the perfect amount of spooky for a book about Death Himself.

I loved the getting to know the characters and the reveal at the ending and that little twist actually had me surprised which honestly doesn't happen that often. I can't wait to read more about the Hawthornes, see Signa figure out her life and powers, and see where that fun cliffhanger will take us. I can imagine more intrigue stemming from many of the side characters, like Charlotte or Blythe, and I really hope they all get pulled into the story more.

I started this book in print with my ARC and then finished it on audio and let me tell you, the words are gorgeous, but the narration is PERFECT. I would highly recommend the audio to anyone and everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for my ARC!

This was so good. The writing is hauntingly beautiful. The opening prologue is one I will not forget. I thought the writing was done with such prose and the characters well developed. I enjoyed the fantasy and mystery elements.

Signa has had a rough upbringing that includes a trail of bodies. Every guardian she’s had has died from various causes and Signa believes she is responsible. When she learns about her connection to Death himself she can’t help but feel a earning to know about him and why he has chosen her to torment for as long as she can remember.

The relationship Signa has with death is definitely the most intriguing part of this novel. Each scene with the two of them is done so well and I definitely recommend the audio to really get a true feel for Death.

Death is not the only mysterious man in Signa’s current life. Silas claims to be a simple stable hand but his demeanor and dress leads Signa to believe he’s not who he says he is.

This was so so good and I can’t wait for more. I definitely recommend it! Adalyn Grace is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me!

Signa has had some really crappy guardians, but good news for her is that they've all died, so she's off Thorn Grove, where her relatives live. Seems like a good deal, except that she can't shake this annoying guy, Death himself, who always seems to be hanging around her, and to make matters worse, her cousin practically has one foot in the grave.

I think I lost the ability to breathe while reading this book so many times that I thought I'd stopped breathing altogether, but hey if that meant death showed up at my bedside, who am I to complain? It's hard to classify Belladonna. It's a little bit fantasy, a little bit horror, a little bit mystery, and a little bit romance. I'll admit that I sometimes pick books based solely on the cover, but I can't complain about picking this one. The chemistry between Death and Signa is electric, and I always have to add the disclaimer that I'm not a romance reader, but the romance here never dominated the story. Instead, it added another layer to a beautifully woven together tale. The world building is so lovely, a fantasy slipped into the midst of (likely) Victorian England and set in a Gothic mansion. What's not to love? The best and worst thing is that this book is the start of a series. That's the best because I simply cannot wait to read it and the worst because it's not out yesterday.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. There are not of books that affect me the way Belladonna did, and I will probably recommend it to everyone I know.

Adalyn Grace creates another book with atmospheric imagery and a page turner. I was completely intrigued by Signa and her connection to Death. When Signa moved into The Hawthorne's home, she uncovers a mystery and begins to follow the clues to protect and get the answers. I enjoyed following the mystery with Signa and continuing to observe her relationship with Death. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I love mysteries in my fantasy. A lot of regular mystery just does not catch my interest, but add in a little fantasy and suddenly it’s very much my cup of tea. I don’t see this done a lot, but Victorian-inspired fantasy is *also* very much my jam. I really think that Adalyn Grace reached into my brain and picked out all the things that I want to see in a book and smashed them all together and I have a feeling that’s part of the reason I loved *Belladonna* so much.

I read Grace’s debut not too long after it came out and while I enjoyed it I wasn’t particularly blown away. It was a solid YA fantasy with a driven protagonist torn between desires but I didn’t think it was unique and it didn’t really stick with me. In retrospect, it was definitely the story itself, because I adored the writing in this in a way I don’t usually.

Obviously, this is a fantasy novel but I loved some of the period accurate references, like a side character using a fan for communication (that the main character does not understand) or Signa’s references to bustles. I always love little nods like this precisely because I don’t expect them. As a history nerd I try excruciatingly hard not to judge fantasy novels on historical accuracy even when they’re clearly inspired by a particular period, so it always feels like little breadcrumbs left out for my nerd heart to find and cherish.

To get into the meatier part of this review let’s talk plot. I’ve never personally read *A Series of Unfortunate Events* but the first couple chapters of this book very much give me a similar vibe. The rest of the book, however, was plotted excellently. There were several times that I thought I knew what was going to happen only for something completely different to take place, and while I had pieces of the mystery figured out before the ending I was still missing a great deal. In my opinion, it made the full reveal all the more interesting.

I also loved our main character Signa. I was worried at first that she was a little too naive for me, but she actually outgrows that incredibly (but still realistically) fast. She’s whip-smart but I thought the way she so obviously struggled to find her place in the world was incredibly relatable. Have we not all felt lost and confused about what we actually want out of life?

I really enjoyed the side characters too. I’m usually pretty easy to please when it comes to the supporting cast, but I did genuinely feel like they were all pretty well flushed out. Blythe in particular really stood out to me, and she was definitely my favourite in the whole book. It would have been really interesting to see her interact with her brother a bit more, but I find myself thinking that about practically every sibling dynamic.

Now the romance was not my favourite. It’s not even that I don’t ship the main character with her love interest, it’s just that I think their dynamic could have been done better. The resolution of a pretty obvious love triangle really left a lot to be desired in my opinion. In all honesty, I just don’t think I connect with the way Adalyn Grace writes romantic arcs, they never hit for me the way they seem to for other people. I still enjoy her books overall, but this is just my one little complaint.

The world-building in this story is best described as atmospheric. This is intended to be a YA gothic and I truly think it hits that mark exceedingly well. It’s rich and filled with crumbling manors and ghosts and all sorts of things that lend this book an unforgettable aesthetic.

All in all, I think *Belladonna* was spectacular. Well written with a great protagonist and fleshed-out side characters, it’s the kind of fantasy that leaves you wanting more. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a quieter fantasy, there are no world-ending stakes here and I loved every second of it.

I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read Belladonna after previously loving Adalyn Grace's other works. I am so happy and thrilled to have had the opportunity to read Belladonna. The story is fantastical, whimsical, and imaginative, you will immediately feel like you have been transported to another world. I really loved the story, and don't honestly believe I've read anything like it in a long time. I am so excited to read the next book and fall even deeper in love with this rich and imaginative world.

I absolutely loved this book! As I child I grew up loving the book/movie The Secret garden and this book reminded me of that’s but with a new adult spin. I loved the deal with the devil, and Hades and Persephone vibes this book gave off. I would definitely recommend this to other readers. I gave it 4 stars because there were some parts that were repetitive. However I would lean more toward 4.5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher, the author and netgalley for the opportunity to review this book!

This has absolutely become one of my new favorites. I loved everything about this book. It was definitely a spooky gothic fantasy with a mystery aspect that really made it seem spookier. I loved the main character and the romance as well.

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

Belladonna was a very anticipated read for me. I was drawn in by it's dark and gloomy description and promise of gothic and glamorous world. The book did not disappoint. By far the best part of the story was the atmosphere. It was so easy to get sucked in and the book had a wonderful tension held throughout the story. I loved how fleshed out and three dimensional the main character Signa was. Her arc was very refreshing and nice to read in a YA novel. Unfortunately the romance fell a tad flat for me. I didn't feel the spark or connection the author wanted me to, and I feel it was one of the only weak points in the book.
So excited to read more from this author and would definitely recommend this to others.

BELLADONNA follows Signa Farrow, an orphan who has been raised all of her life by a plethora of guardians who are mostly interested in her wealth, and who end up dying suddenly. Her last relatives are the Hawthornes, an eccentric family living in a gloomy and mysterious estate. However, this family is grieving the passing of Lillian, and the seemingly upcoming passing of daughter Blythe suffering from the same unknown illness that took her mother. Signa’s strange connection to ghosts leads her to suspecting foul play, so she teams up with Death, whom she despises, to save the last family she could have.

Fantasy books with gothic elements don’t usually interest me, because I’m a giant scaredy cat, but the premise of Belladonna combined such a unique blend of genres that I wanted to read it. What I got was a really intrigued plot with a complex cast of characters and a mystery I couldn’t solve for the life of me (which is not unusual). Though it look me awhile to get into the first at first, at around 30%, I got hooked and managed to finish reading in a couple of hours. I really liked the story and how the thriller and paranormal aspects worked together. The romance wasn’t for me, but I do think I’ll in the minority on that. I was more captivated by Signa’s character development and her protectiveness over this new-found family. I’m looking forward to seeing if and how the sequel reinvents the plot and hopefully continues the great character exploration. Definitely recommend!

This was a gothic, atmospheric book that was a mix of fantasy, mystery, and romance. I loved Adalyn Grace's previous series and this one was just as unique. Her descriptions and setting really set a tone and created a creepy atmosphere. I enjoyed Signa’s abilities but wish there had been a bit more backstory of how they started. We're kind of thrown into it in the beginning with very little explanation.

At first the relationship between Death and Signa felt odd to me, but over time I just rolled with it and actually came to enjoy their banter. The mystery plot was fun and there were definitely twists I didn't see coming even if others were a bit predictable..

I thought this was a YA book going in but it really leans a little more toward adult. The introspection and discussion surrounding death is incredibly thoughtful and compelling. There were definitely lines that I am still thinking about and processing.

Overall this is a really beautifully written and constructed story. The plot is unique, the setting is atmospheric, and the banter and mystery drive the story. I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC of Belladonna in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely delightful.

I adored how Sigma found herself during this story and embraced her independence, her fiery heart, and found family

*chef’s kiss*

I don’t normally love found family, but this was definitely it, with so many strong women in it.

And daddy Death, mmmmmm.

I knew I’d love reapers, just never knew how much.

The pacing of the first half of the book did struggle to truly grab me, but at about the 45% mark I was absolutely hooked.

After so many books with cliffhangers I did appreciate a neatly set up sequel that doesn’t leave me with potential years worth of anxiety waiting for what comes next.

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a finished copy of this book from Hachette Book Group Canada in exchange for an honest review- I also received an eARC of this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review and place on TBR and Beyond Tour’s BT for Belladonna – thanks!

Having read All the Stars and Teeth, I started Belladonna with the knowledge that I would enjoy the writing style once more- and I was right. Grace’s prose is easy to fall into, quick to read, and it kept me captivated long enough to finish the book. Signa was an interesting main character, whose voice and naivety rang loudly through the book. Though I did enjoy her as a character, at times it was unclear exactly how her powers work and how she is so quickly able to master them.

The main plot of the story, the murder mystery, was executed very well. I love the feeling when you finish a mystery and can go back over and remember different clues and breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout. Grace did a good job to not make the guilty party the only suspect, and to plant the seeds of suspicion quite thoroughly.

In the next book, I do truly hope we get more involvement from Blythe. She was easily my favourite character, and honestly I would read an entire book from her POV. It seems like she has been set up for a bigger role, so fingers crossed.

My one frustration with this book is with the love interest. I am really just tired of the young woman / girl (because Signa, as mentioned before, is quite naive about the world) and the as-old-as-time-itself love interest. ESPECIALLY, considering the fact that Death has known Signa since she was a baby. And for the first half of the book, he treats her more like a child than someone he has waited “millennia” for- we see how creepy that is right??? It just gives me the ick, and is not romantic in the slightest, to assign your MC a LI who essentially groomed her into who she is today.

Anywayyyy, those are my thoughts on Belladonna. Will I read the second book? Probably, but we will have to wait and see. Until then, I definitely do need to read the second ATSAT book so maybe we will get to that soon.

Belladonna releases August 30th, 2022

Amazon review pending approval.

Review:
Gothic romance is the way to my little emo heart. Somewhere there's a myspace picture of me at warped tour wearing a green studded belt. I still know the words to every song on three cheers to sweet revenge. And somewhere on the internet is the search history of 14 year old me trying to find phantom of the opera fanfiction at 2am.

So let's just say I was really excited for this book - a YA gothic mystery with romance and a death daddy love interest.

But where I was expecting crimson peak, instead I got eddie murphy's the haunted mansion. Which isn't the biggest disappointment because god knows that movie is entertaining as hell, but it's still a disappointment.

- too much telling, not enough showing
- too little character interaction, and what there was had little substance
- inconceivable plot twists that felt contrived.

As this is the first in a series, I would be interested to read the next book in hopes that my complaints would be resolved with character development and world building.

I saw a lot of hype for this book and therefore was really excited when I got approved for the ARC. This book is definitely interesting, but it's a lot darker than I expected. It reminds me of Addie LaRue in that the love interest is essentially, death, and in the same vein as Addie LaRue I just couldn't really get on board with it. Don't get me wrong, the writing is great and so atmospheric and I liked that there was a mystery component, it just seems that books where Death is the love interest are not for me.

So freaking good
So good
Signa is so feisty, love her fighting with Death. The setting is gorgeous
The conclusion was so satisfying.
I had a great time

Signa Farrow was orphaned at a young age and left with only her inheritance and her connection to Death himself. From her youth she has been passed from guardian to guardian, each uninterested in here well-being and only concerned with their monthly stipend and inheritance when she comes of age. However, wherever she goes, her guardian meets an untimely end. She has a connection to Death, she can see and speak to him as well as spirits of the dead, and she herself cannot seem to die.

Her last living relatives are the Hawthornes and when she ends up at Thorn Grove, her life starts to change. They are in mourning of their mother and her cousin in also sick. Signa embarks on a mission to determine the root cause of the mother's death and what is making her cousin sick and in the process explores her connection to Death and her own powers.

This book has such a dark, gothic atmosphere about it. It reminded me a bit of Mexican Gothic, with the dark and mysterious gothic vibes, mixed with old-timey Bridgerton setting and romance as Signa is coming of age and making her debut. I found this book to be unique and gripping, really well written with great world-building and colourful descriptions.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC

Belladonna is one of the best books I've read this year! I don't know why I haven't read Adalyn Grace before, but after reading Belladonna, I can't wait for the next book in the series: Foxglove.
Signa Farrow is a young orphan, who passes from one custodian to another, after the death of the previous one and each of her custodians is more interested in Signa's fortune than in the young woman's well-being, which makes our protagonist blame Death for not having a stable family.
This situation will change when she arrives at the Hawthorne family home, Thorn Grove, where she meets her young cousins ​​Percy and Blythe, as well as the mysterious Sylas. From the arrival of Signa, life in Thorn Grove will change and an even more enigmatic and mysterious character will enter Signa's life: Death in person, who will guide our protagonist in the development of her supernatural powers while solving the mystery of her aunt Lillian's death.
A new and very interesting story, gothic, dark but full of hope, romance and life, that will catch the reader and keep him intrigued until the end.
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and declare that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.

This book is a perfect one to read in spooky season!

The plot is unique with wonderful writing style, it'll suck you into the story very quickly. The pacing is a bit slow at certain chapters, but still enjoyable.

Signa is a fascinating character, I admire how she challenges Death and not cower in front of him.
I love how the author write about Death's character, I love knowing about him slowly as the story unfolds.

As much as I like the relationship between Death and Signa, it felt a bit weird at first.
Nonetheless, I began to like them more since Death always try to encourage Signa to be herself instead of following the set of rules for women in that era.

There's a couple of twists near the ending and even though the ending felt slightly rushed, I was glad to know that the epilogue serve as a teaser for the sequel!

Overall, a fantastic book to start a gothic fantasy series!
I'm really looking forward to read the sequel, Foxglove coming out next year!

Actual rating: 4.5⭐

A massive thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Adalyn Grace as well as TBR and Beyond Tour for granting this review copy to me and letting me be a part of the book tour. I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily!