This is by far the best book I’ve read in 2022! Highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves mysteries and mystical … death…
The writing was wonderful, I was intrigued by the story from the first sentence.
Cannot wait to read more from this author.

Belladonna starts when Signa is a baby and death comes to visit for the first time. You begin to follow Signa’s journey as she continues to meet death over and over. Once she gets to her newest home, she soon sees death more and more as someone in the family appears to be being poisoned. Signa decides to takes deaths assistance to try to catch the killer of one family member and soon to be death of another if she doesn’t find them in time.

Belladonna is a supernatural mystery. I originally thought it was a young adult but found out farther into the novel that it definitely is not. I found the theme and the mystery of the story really intriguing. There were a few twists and turns and I didn’t see any of them coming, which is always something I want in a novel like this. The characters are likeable and really bring the story to life. I liked how Signa could see ghosts and was untouchable by death. It brought a lot to the story and plot.

The reason I’m only able to give this novel three stars is mostly due to the last third of the book. I was really enjoying the story but then there began a strange romance feel between Signa and Death. Add in a very bizarre sex scene that could have been left out and I was suddenly turned off of the book. I read the rest but didn’t enjoy it nearly as much because the some of the scenes began to feel like strange filler. The other thing I didn’t like about this novel is the time period it is set in doesn’t match well with the age of the characters. The women are about to join their first seasons and be presented to available suitors but they were already in their early 20s.

Overall I enjoyed the majority of this novel and will continue to read this series to see where it goes.

3.5-4 Stars

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2022 and I’ll start by saying I cannot wait for the next book.

However, the middle didn’t hold my interest as much as I wanted it to!

The first 1/4 SUCKED ME IN AND WAS SO GOOD AND GAHHHHHHH!!! And then we get to Thorn Grove and it all felt anticlimactic and semi repetitive BUT I STILL ENJOYED IT! I just found myself putting it down much easier than I imagined I would. BUT THEN WE GOT THE LAST 1/4 AND I COULD FLIP PAGES FAST ENOUGH! AND WITH AN ENDING THAT HAS ME DESPERATE FOR THE NEXT BOOK, so clearly I enjoyed it.

Also, the romance was so good and I really appreciated the more intimate scenes we got! They aren’t fade to black (despite the yummy shadows), but they also aren’t overly graphic or as open door as other fantasy smut/steamy books are. I’m fine either way, but felt like it was the perfect mix for this story and couple!

Anyhoo, I definitely recommend and I cannot wait to read the next and NEED IT ASAP OLAY THANK YOU!

ough Signa was orphaned at a young age, she is strength personified. Bounced around to varying family members, none of them welcoming or nice, and some downright abusive. She's had a tough life, made even more so because Death follows her everywhere she goes. She's wanted nothing in life but to escape him. So when she's sent to live with her aunt's family in the wake of her aunt's death, she wonders if this luxurious mansion, Thorn Grove, will be another disaster in a string of them. But Death hasn't left her alone; in fact, he has many things to show her. Because the mansion is haunted, and people keep falling sick.

I confess I was a bit worried going into this because it is labeled as book 1. Often, authors leave their readers on a terrible cliffhanger, so imagine my utter delight at Grace giving us a happy enough for now ending!! That alone deserves all the stars.

I always read a lot of reviews before writing my own. One reviewer said they didn't feel a lot of buildup between Signa and Death, and I see that and agree that it sprang seemingly out of nowhere. But that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Signa is a bit naive, but her life has been anything but easy. She's had no stability and no proper formal schooling, and I feel she does fairly well considering how much hardship she's endured. Signa's only interaction with society is through a book called "A Lady's Guide to Beauty and Etiquette," which was left behind. Everything she's learned about being a lady comes from that book. Her awkwardness is what makes her so endearing.

I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the storyline; it's a perfect combination of excellent storytelling that draws the reader in. Part fantasy, mystery, and romance, the reader couldn't ask for more. I'm looking forward to more out of Sigma in the future. Thank you, Little Brown Books, for sending this along.

I had the absolute pleasure of reading Belladonna for my stop on TBR & Beyond Tours’ release celebration, and it instantly became one of my all-time favorites! Head over to my blog (link in bio) for a full tour schedule, and to see some of my favorite quotes from Belladonna!

Belladonna swept me away, both with its sense of mystery and with its brilliant romance! I would easily give this book six stars out of five because it was really a perfect read for me. The mystery plotline was written so that I, like Signa, was constantly second-guessing who I thought the killer could be! There were plenty of plot twists, but they were well motivated and heralded by foreshadowing and clues, making it even more exciting to read. I was in a bit of a reading slump before reading Belladonna, but Adalyn Grace has cured me!
I am beyond delighted that there will be a sequel to Belladonna, called Foxglove, coming out in 2023, because I am not at all ready to be finished with Signa’s adventures. Before the next book comes out, I am planning on listening to the audiobook version, as I just know that this book will be one that is even better upon re-reading.

My Recommendation-
If you’re a reader who loves upper YA romantic fantasy novels like The Cruel Prince you need to grab a copy of Belladonna! I would especially recommend this book to readers who love a dark mystery in their stories!

Content Warnings: Death, sickness, murder, sexual content, violence, child neglect, grief, scenes that resemble self-harm

Thank you so much Hachette Book Group Canada for, providing me with a physical copy of Belladonna. Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book. This review will be posted on my Goodreads and Instagram accounts. I will also be publishing this review on Amazon Canada, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo Canada.

What I loved about this book:

-The Cover (both the dust jacket and the naked cover)! My favorite cover of 2022, so far, is Belladonna. The cover catches your eyes immediately on the shelves. Also, the naked cover rivals the dust jacket cover.

-The atmosphere! Adalyn Grace nailed the gothic atmosphere in this book. The author compares this book to Addie Larue. However, I would like to add that I also get Kerri Maniscalco (SJTR & Kingdom of the Wicked) vibes as well from this book.

-Having Death as a character! Death was by far next to Blythe, my favorite character in Belladonna. I was always intrigued when he showed up on the pages. I also loved his personality and interactions with Signa.

-The concept! The M/C can't die! She can eat poisonous berries without any consequences.

-The romance! The romance in this book gave me all the feels. We even get a ballroom dance scene. Belladonna is an upper YA book (think KOTW/KOTC).

-The murder mystery! All my guesses of who was the killer were wrong. I was pleasantly shocked at finding out who was the antagonist at the end of book one.

-The ending! That ending left me with a book hangover! I need book two! I need to find out what happens next in this series.

Overall, this was a fun read. I loved the gothic atmosphere and the romance. Signa's powers and the murder mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending made me super excited about book 2.

“Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.” - Emily Dickinson

This stanza from one of Dickinson’s most well-known poems looped in the background of my brain the entire time I was reading Adalyn Grace’s “Belladonna”, almost as if this lovely set of four lines was the entire inspiration behind the book. For all I know, it could be: gothic, atmospheric, haunting, and romantic in nature, “Belladonna” is a book I could see a modern-day Emily Dickinson writing one of those little blurbs of praise that publishers use to market books to the masses.

Atropa Belladonna (beware the beautiful lady), also known as Nightshade, has been a staple of the poisoner’s arsenal for centuries, if not for over a millenia. On the flip side, as with most poisons, it also has positive medicinal properties (it can be used to ease cramps, for one). This book is filled with juxtapositions like this: beautiful ladies with ugly intentions, genial men with avaricious eyes, gentle souls with dark secrets, and so on. That’s only the start of what makes this book so interesting.

Adalyn Grace has managed to go back to the time of the Romantics and write an absolutely lovely book about death. About the love behind it. About how it’s not something to fear but something that’s inevitable and something to eventually embrace. Modern society does nothing but tell us day after day how we should do this and that to extend our lives. The pressure to be this or do that or buy this or eat that or don’t drink that thing you are craving but instead drink more wheatgrass pervade our screens, pages, billboards, subway stations, and bus stops. This book goes back to a time when you knew death would come for you one day, and sometimes death wasn’t fair. And, for those who were brave enough to step away from polite society, life could be lived to its fullest, in relative solitude, eating what one wished and drinking what one wished until such time as death came to one’s doorstep.

The prose is lovely and the world building is indulgent without tipping over into overly descriptive. The characters are striking and unique, even the ones you end up not caring for much by the end. In the end it’s a splendid book that will feed your gothic romance needs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for Young Readers for granting me access to this book.

If you’re a fan of Meet Joe Black coupled with gothic vibes then this one is for you!

I adored Signa as a character. She’s stubborn and persistent even though she’s intimately familiar with abandonment and loss of loved ones. Signa can also see spirits, but once she accepts the power she has, her true potential shines.

I loved the side characters especially, especially death! There was just so much snark and banter.

This is the perfect book to kick off spooky season with.

This book has been on my radar since I read the blurb months and months ago.

Signa is twenty years old and at this point in her life, just waiting until the day she can claim her inheritance and be done with all the “caretakers” in her life. They use her for her money and they all seem to drop dead at some not so inopportune times. A fun fact about Signa, is that she can not die. She can navigate the space between living and crossing over, she can see spirits, and has a somewhat tumultuous relationship with Death himself. Signa finds herself without yet another guardian and is sent to live with her Uncle. She realizes she has arrived almost immediately after the death of her aunt, and her cousin is lying on her literal death bed. A wayward spirit approaches Signa and we find that maybe this mysterious illness that took her aunt’s life was not an actual illness at all. Perhaps it was a murder…

Let me tell you what. Belladonna did not disappoint!

This book was gothic and moody and romantic and interesting. PLUS a mystery novel to boot.

I’ll be upfront and honest with you guys.
Here is the truth: I did in fact, see the ending coming, from a mile away.
But getting there was still lots of fun and I had no problem with a single part of this plot.

Which is practically unheard of. If you’ve read my reviews before you know that It’s rare for me to not have any issues with a book. But this one was pretty dang near perfect in my opinion.

Belladonna is gothic. So it was moody and melancholic and had that creepy victorian vibe thing going on that I love so much.

Belladonna was romantic. I loved the relationships that Signa had. I loved that she wasn’t afraid of her sexuality, she was afraid of society. I especially loved when she threw caution right out the window. It was super satisfying.

Belladonna was fascinating. This book was suspenseful and paranormal and it was a murder mystery. It was an all around good time.

The characters were all very well developed, the plot had no holes as far as I could tell.

AND BELLADONNA HAD DEATH.

I mean… Death the character and death the actual act of dying.

Seriously though. Come on!
An Angel of Death who has a heart of gold.
A girl with untapped powers who gets a one on one (if you catch my drift) with the Ferrier to the underworld. There may be a little Grim Reaper sex on the menu, and honestly, what’s not to love about that? nothing.
Add in the fact that Signa is a boss bitch who don’t take shit from no one, has no need to be with a man and takes care of herself in a time period that feels very 1800th century.

The characters were really effin’ cool.
The setting and scenery was really effin’ cool.
The plot was different and kept me completely engrossed.
I just really loved it!

I can’t wait for the sequel~ Foxglove!

This was the gothic tale of my dreams!! I absolutely adored the relationship between Death and Signa! This was such an interesting take on the Death character and it made this impossible to put down. There is a beautiful sort of doom and gloom that surrounds the characters and setting that give a very immersive gothic experience. Highly recommend for spooky season!

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

I enjoyed All the Stars and Teeth, so I was incredibly grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of Belladonna. Somehow, it blew my expectations out of the water.

“A gothic romance following a girl with Death constantly hovering nearby, Belladonna is the gripping story full of wealth, desire, and betrayal that will sweep readers up in its haunting tale from the very beginning!”

The writing is lush and the story did, in fact, sweep me up from the very beginning. Signa’s interactions with Death always left me wanting more (in the best way), and the mystery at Thorn Grove was brilliantly woven. I was able to guess some of the twists, but that didn’t detract from the joy of devouring this story, start to finish.

At the heart of this book is a young woman, searching for a place she belongs. With strange, inexplicable powers, and rumors of death in her wake, Signa has been shunted from caretaker to caretaker, most of whose interest in her extended only to her wealth. Despite her circumstances being a bit fantastic, I think this might be one of the most relatable main characters I’ve read in a while, and she truly shines throughout the book. Because of this, it’s not unreasonable to believe Death himself is intrigued by her. Even though ageless immortal x 19 year old is not my favorite trope, the author makes it feel realistic.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to any fans of gothic mystery and romance, and upper YA romantasy in general.

Spooky, gothic atmosphere. And a beautifully written story. Signa is a strong character with a fierce need to protect her new family in this story. Hello little bird....

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the sequel. The writing is smooth and drew me in from the start.

Signa (19 at the start) was quite unusual. For a while, she seemed to alternate between intelligent and shallow. She was constantly curious about pretty much everything, but then she'd spend pages dreaming about her season, potential suitors, dresses, etiquette, and the societal position she hoped to be in. The two were rather at odds with one another until I discovered that one was due to her belief that it's how she should be and how her mother would have wanted her to be.

I can't really talk too much about other characters without accidentally spoiling things. But I liked both Death and Sylas. One of my favorite little interactions was when Death got mad at Signa for holding back when she was hungry and then shoved a scone at her. I kept guessing (incorrectly, most of the time) who was to blame and why. Some aspects of the explanation still don’t quite add up for me, but I suppose I should be grateful I can’t entirely understand the mind of a murderer.

It will be interesting to see how the overall story plays out and where it goes. I love happy endings, and I want one for Signa. I’m not sure how she’ll get it, but I hope she does.

Note: Maybe some swearing. Sensuality. A mild sec scene. Gruesome descriptions.

Review: I was enthralled with this book and loved it from start to finish. Signa was such a fascinating character. Constantly told she was unimportant since her grandmother died, she doesn't expect her life to ever change for the better. But it does, and she takes her chance and runs with it, trying to protect the new family she has come into. The character of Death is intriguing and so different from our typical perception of death. Fair warning there is a minor amount of spice (YA nivel) but it was tasteful and just right. I won't spoil it but *squeal* it was good! I will absolutely be buying this book and recommending it far and wide.

A beautiful, divine, gothic mystery. Set against a dark, lush landscape with vivid imagery, this book is a must read for fall.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

I was really hooked on this book right at the start. Signa is an orphan who seems to be followed by death. Everyone who has taken care of her dies an untimely death, meanwhile she seems to be unbreakable. Never finding a place to call home she is finally sent to Thorn Grove, where she meets a troubled and complicated family that have just lost their mother.

This book has a really cool concept, where death is one of the main characters. Signa was fascinating and I loved the gothic setting. My only complaint was the plot seemed to really slow down in the middle and by the end I was impatient with how things were turning out. But I’m definitely intrigued enough to read what else this author has in store for these characters! I really enjoy this type of magical realism, it gave me Addie LaRue vibes.

Thank you to @littlebrownyoungreaders and @netgalley for my advanced copy! This book is out on Aug 30th.

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To start I’d like to thank Adalyn Grace and Little Brown Books for the opportunity to read and review Belladonna!

The writing was fantastic! I loved all the character and the twist at the end I was not expecting!

Can’t wait for my physical copy to come in the mail!

4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC version of this novel! Opinions are my own.

From the opening chapter, I was swept away by the rich atmosphere Adalyn Grace paints so effortlessly.

Signa is surrounded by Death himself, and learns to dance a delicate line in and out of his shadows. The irresistible connection that blooms between them had me turning the pages fervently.

The nostalgic vibes of The Secret Garden, and the dark, magical, and intoxicating vibes of Kingdom of the Wicked, I adored BELLADONNA and can't wait for the sequel.

Thank you again to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to Adalyn Grace for writing such a beautiful story.

This book was absolutely incredible. From the first page I was intrigued, and wanted to know more. This story is packed full of mystery, romance, betrayal, deceit, and questioning. Signa was a really great main character, and I really enjoyed seeing her story within this book. From the ups and downs that she endures she continuously fights for answers, and more than anything wants to know the truth behind her mothers death.

I had been really interested in this story since the author announced it, and I'm really glad that I was able to get an advanced readers copy. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Belladonna is the perfect spooky fall read and doesn’t disappoint. Definitely Put it on your fall tbr👻👻