I was SO looking forward to this one and I overall had a good time with it.
The writing did very well with setting the correct atmosphere for a gothic, spooky mansion and questionable relatives, plus ghosts type of story. I was here for the spooky vibes and it definitely delivered on that front.

However, at about the 30-40% mark I found myself getting a bit bored. I wasn't super intrigued by the mystery and sort of guessed the ending before we got to it. I also had some issues with Death as the immortal love interest being in Signa's life since she was an actual child. It really rubbed me the wrong way and messed with my reading experience.

Overall I'd give this book a 3/5 for the stellar writing and atmosphere. I am big fan of spooky vibes and when books really transport me to their setting which is where this one delivered. The characters left a bit to be desired and I am very rarely behind an immortal love interest, and not at all when they meet their S.O. as a baby.

I am so thankful to the publisher for the early copy! I will still be purchasing a copy to keep on my shelves and hope to pick up the sequel in the future.

The aesthetic of Belladonna is everything I could have wanted. It's been months since I've read a fantasy book but something about this book drew me in and I'm so glad I read it. Belladonna is filled with gothic, dark academia vibes and is the perfect book to add to your fall tbr. As I mentioned, this was my first fantasy read in a while so it felt a little slow and confusing at first because of the intricate world-building but once I really dove in, I was hooked.

Signa is such a complex character with very unique abilities. I really loved her personality because even though she's been alone for most of her life, she cares for people so deeply. She also is very bold and unrefined which is fun to witness in a proper, atmospheric setting such as this one. Her abilities kept me on my toes because I never knew what to expect or how any of it worked until the end of the book and even then there is so much more to explore.

Signa's life is tangled with Death who is one of the most intriguing characters I've ever read about. I honestly wish we had fan art of him because I don't think I can fully capture his essence in my imagination. He seems so dark and ominous but also appears to have a soft spot for Signa which I love. This is a classic tale of enemies to lovers, forbidden love, forced proximity, and even has a touch of the love triangle trope.

There were a few plot twists at the end of Belladonna that caught me by surprise. This book is filled with a murder mystery and even though I spent the same amount of time as Signa trying to solve it I was surprised by the verdict. The ending of this book leaves us with a lot of the answers we were looking for while also leaving us wanting more. I'm especially excited to see more of the dynamic between Death and Signa. I had a lot of hope for their relationship and I loved seeing where it was going at the end of this book. There's also a new mystery for us to solve in the sequel and I'm looking forward to it.

Overall, I highly recommend Belladonna and am hoping that Adalyn Grace continues writing in this world for a while.

5⭐️

“If there was one constant that Signa could count on, it was that no matter where she was, Death would find her.”

Count me in for any story that makes you fall in love with Death himself. Signa’s mother died at a party when she was just a baby along with all of the other party goers. When Death went to claim Signa, he found that she could not die. Signa discovers her immortality at a young age, and catches glimpses of Death. Signa can also see spirits and believes Death to have cursed her and takes belladonna to summon him and get the answers she needs.

When Signa accidentally kills her aunt, she is retrieved by Sylas, a stable boy from Thorn Grove sent by her uncle to collect her. When Signa arrives at Thorn Grove, she discovers that her cousin, Blythe is deathly ill and suffering from the same ailment that killed Blythe’s mother, Lillian. Signa soon realizes that Blythe is being poisoned with belladonna, and that someone at Thorn Grove likely poisoned Lillian as well. It is up to Signa to solve the mystery of Lillian’s murder and save Blythe.

I thought this book would have a nice, tidy ending after Signa finds the truth, but boy was I wrong! It ends on a major cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see what comes next! I love Signa and Death and I’m excited to see their characters develop.

“She didn’t hate Death, not truly. And God, what a fool that made her.”

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Belladonna has quite a bit of hype surrounding its release, especially from retailers such as Barnes & Noble. It is due to this hype that I was expecting a rather atmospheric, chilling mystery loosely set in the Victorian era. However, the story ended up being rather disappointing in its execution.

Firstly, the imagery was rather lacking. While characters and settings are given physical descriptions, the foreboding atmosphere one would expect in this story is nearly nonexistent. It only shows through at certain times, but only stays for a scene before disappearing once more. This makes it hard to feel anticipation and tension for the unraveling mystery--which is only exacerbated by the misplaced humor that pops up on occasion. While funny moments are welcome, they need to happen at the right time or it will undermine the horror one is trying to express.

Second, it is difficult to want to support the main character, Signa, throughout these macabre events. Signa is an unlikeable character, and while unlikeable characters can be interesting to follow, they are difficult to enjoy when you don't support them in overcoming their obstacles. It's hard to sympathize with Signa, and part of that is due to the poor choices and wrong conclusions she makes. While you don't expect a character to make good decisions all the time, it's hard to over look some of them considering Signa's background and knowledge,

Thirdly, the pacing was inconsistent. It took a long time for us to get through the set-up of the story, but once there it feels like plot points are rushed through. In part, this is due to characters doing things that doesn't make sense for them to do. It, also, is partly from scenes that feel as though they don't really serve much of a point.

The concept is interesting, and the mystery does have you curious as to what the answer to all the hauntings and deaths are. However, the execution lets it down, which is frustrating as there are glimpses of what could of been in scenes that are rather well-written. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this novel.

Let's start with the good. The moody, gothic atmosphere is top notch and I really dug the creepy-cool vibes of this world. It feels so much like an historical romance setting, except a bit dark and creepy. I loved the vibes, and I loved the very clear inspiration from "The Secret Garden" musical. I was intrigued. I wanted to know more.

But. There are some big issues we need to discuss. The first and biggest being the relationship between Signa and Death. It's supposed to be this big epic, fated romance ... but it feels super creepy, given that he's basically been grooming her since infancy and waiting for her to be old enough to pursue a relationship with her. Not to mention the fact that he lies to her, gaslights her, and deceives her with a disguise (that's written to lead readers into believing there is a love triangle). He still has sex with her before revealing the truth to her. And she just accepts all of this when she does eventually find out.

Look, I'm good with an age gap romance. I don't even mind the massive age differences in vampire/human romances. But the fact that he's been a part of her life since she was a baby is something I can't get on board with. It is creepy and gross.

There's also an insane amount of exposition to just explain everything at the end of the book, which feels really lazy and uninspiring. Death does all these questionable things, then has a sit down chat to explain everything and Signa's like, "cool, okay." And that's ... it? Not to mention the whole book is leading to their romantic entanglement only for him to stop by after he's explained everything to say, "Oh by the way, peace out."

All this to say, I probably won't be sticking around for the sequel.

Belladonna

Ratings 4.5 stars

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review.

Signa Farrow has an interesting relationship with death. Orphaned as a baby she was sent to guardian after guardian as they all met their untimely ending. Each time she came face to face with Death himself, who couldn't help but be intrigued with her. With less than a year before her inheritance is hers, she is sent to another guardian. The Hawthornes who reside at Thorne Grove. A few months before Signa’s arrival her cousin Lillian had died from a mysterious disease. Now Lillian's daughter Blythe is suffering from the same disease. The only chance Signa has to solve this mystery is to turn to Death for help, who is eager to nurture the connection growing between the two of them.

This was such a good read. I loved the gothic paranormal vibes. Murder, ghosts, and Death himself. The storytelling and the visuals were so realistic. Signa grows so much in this book, from the child scared of her powers to the woman who embraced them. She spends her whole life thinking she wants into society, to become a prim and proper housewife, only to see her true self can be so much more than that. With the surprise at the end I definitely cannot wait for the next book.

Signa is orphaned as a baby and raised by several guardians who seem to be more interested in her inheritance and the allowance that comes with it. Unfortunately, each of these guardians seem to have met an untimely death. Six months before her 20th birthday she finds herself living with the Hawthorns, the family of her mother's late sister. Signa finds the huge mansion haunted and her cousin sick, dying of the same mysterious disease as her Aunt. It is up to Signa with a little help from others to solve this mystery.

I received this book from NetGalley and it was fantastic. It had a gothic setting with some paranormal and romance! I loved it and didn't want to put it down. Even when I thought I knew who did it, I didn't and I loved how the author left the story open for a second book! I will definitely be watching out for this author!

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

417 Pages
Release Date: August 30, 2022
Publisher: Little Brown Young Readers

Fiction, Teen, Young Adult, Historical, Murder Mystery, Suspense, Paranormal, Dark Fantasy

Signa Farrow can defy death. The day she was born, everyone in the household died from poison. When Death came for her, he saw her future. For her entire life, death touched everyone close to Signa. She tried to kill herself by eating belladonna berries but instead of dying, she achieves an unliving state. In this state, she meets Death.

In this book, the killer uses belladonna to poison victims. Signa must find out who is poisoning and why. Of course, I love anything about Belladonna Atropa (Deadly Nightshade). It was fast paced, the characters were developed, and it was written in the third person point of view. For anyone interested in poison mysteries, or historic mysteries, you will enjoy this book.

I'll admit, my dislike for this one is my fault. I didn't read the synopsis, just the tag line. If I'd realized this was a mystery, I don't think I would have picked it up. I did though, and I have regrets.

We'll start off with the positive first - I liked Death. I'd love to have more books with him personified, its always a fun situation. I felt like Belladonna did it well, even though there are some valid points with the age gap. I didn't care enough about the romance to mind, but I can see how that could be icky.

As for everything else, I was so bored. The mystery was so un-mysterious. People wandered around and did things, bur there were no stakes. Nothing felt like it mattered. Even when characters were on death's door, it felt boring. I didn't care about any of the happenings. And the plot twists... They were twists. They were incredibly obvious lines. No twisting.

The ending also frustrated me. There's no reason for this to have a sequel. I won't be reading it, not when it sounds like it'll be an exact repeat of this one. I understand wanting to spend more time in a world, but this one needed a lot more development to be a world worth staying in.

Absolutely loved this book! It was a murder mystery mixed with fantasy and a touch of romance and there were ghosts!! I loved the characters and that the story kept twisting and turning. The relationship was a bit strange but also makes sense I’m just not that big of a fan of age gaps even when they’re paranormal. I did like that Death was trying to help solve the case and save a life. Very excited for book 2!

I think that Belladonna has a great premise and while I don't think it was necessarily executed poorly, it just wasn't for me. I struggled to get into the story and didn't really feel a connection to any of the characters. Additionally, some parts were very repetitive and I think it would've benefitted from some extra editing and condensing. This book will absolutely be a hit for many people, but unfortunately, I am not one of them

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While I’ve never read Adalyn Grace before, Belladonna drew my attention with the promise of Gothic vibes. And it delivers, for the most part.
I love the creepy, ghostly vibes throughout. The atmosphere really comes alive (sometimes literally). I did sometimes wish there was more context for the location of Thorn Grove, however. It gives old-timey vibes, ripped from a Gothic classic. But I was never sure where we were on a larger scale. No real-world locations were mentioned, but this world does use our world’s calendar, as noted by some journal excerpts. It’s not a huge deal, but I’d have liked some clarification on that.
The character dynamics are fun and the part that really stuck out to me. I mean, solving a murder mystery with literal Death? Love! Signa has been abandoned by her parents, used and abused by a succession of guardians for her powers, and ostracized by others in society for her unique gift, so kinship with Death, who everyone fears, makes sense. It’s beautiful to see these two misunderstood souls working together and falling in love. And while I’m not a fan of bad boys, Death is such a sweetheart underneath the darkness.
Signa also faces some new challenges as the novel, as she finds herself in a unique situation with her newest guardians, the Hawthorne family, as while they don’t mistreat her, there’s a lot of family drama, including suspicion of something amiss with her sick cousin and the mysterious death of her aunt. It’s intriguing to watch it all unfold, and there are some great twists and turns. The pacing isn’t always consistent, and there are some moments where the plot lagged, but for the most part it’s pretty solid.
I was not expecting the ending though…the cliffhanger? I’m glad a second book is coming, and I’m excited for where the story goes next. If you enjoy YA fantasy and/or stories with Gothic romance vibes, I recommend keeping an eye out for this one!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Belladonna was an interesting read. While there were certain elements I really liked throughout the story, it did take me a bit to fully get into the story and characters.

It is in the heroine’s POV only and has a slight enemies to lovers romance. I would recommend checking the content warnings before reading though.

The premise was quite interesting and the atmospheric writing was so descriptive. I loved the gothic infused murder mystery, the Victorian manor, and the supernatural element. However, the pacing of the story was quite slow and there were just a few subplots not fully developed.

I also really wasn’t a fan off the heroine mostly caring about being out in society and getting married. Towards the middle and ending her indecisiveness regarding this matter did get quite frustrating, as she just could not make up her mind to what she truly wanted.

There was a slight love triangle but at the same time there wasn’t, which was interesting. It all makes sense at the end, but I will say I was able to figure out that twist early on.

The romance overall wasn’t my favorite to be honest. It just didn’t feel that believable as there really wasn’t enough tension, build-up, or emotional connection between them. While, there were a few heartfelt and tender moments between them, I just wanted more from their relationship. There was also bit of spice that alluded to some sexual content, but it was not graphic or very descriptive.

The last few chapters were definitely my favorite as I was on the edge of my seat. There were just some great twists and turns that I did not see coming. The ending also wrapped up pretty nicely, but the relationship between the main characters was left quite open-ended.

For some reason I also thought this was a standalone, which was my fault for not checking. So there was a slight cliffhanger in the epilogue, which sets up for the next book in the series. I am curious to continue and hopefully get a more definite answer on how the relationship between the main characters is going to really work because I still have a lot of questions.

Overall, still an enjoyable read but I was just expecting a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a young adult gothic fantasy novel about a girl trying to keep her cousin from dying by working with Death. I loved this book, from the concept to execution. It was a fun, fast paced read and I was constantly looking for spare moments to pick it up throughout the day.

When Signa Farrow moves in with her distant cousins after the untimely death of her guardian--a situation she has become all too familiar with--she is determined not to let death follow her to her new home. This presents two problems for Signa. The first is that her cousin is deathly ill. The second is that the Death himself has taken an interest in why Signa cannot die. As Signa works to uncover the foul play she believes is causing her cousin's sickness, she must work with Death to learn why she alone can see the dead and solve the mystery of who may be behind the poisonings.

Belladonna is a unique story that covers ground from a ghost story to a mystery to a romance, and does all of it equally well. Signa was a great main character, intelligent with an interesting arc as she developed from a lonely girl craving a place in society to someone self assured who evaluates what she really wants from her life. The cast of supporting characters were all well-rounded, from her cousins Blythe and Percy to the enigmatic stable worker Sylas and then to Death, each having their own motivations and mysteries. It's definitely worth picking up!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown for the eARC of Belladonna.

Adalyn Grace does a fantastic job of combining the gothic genre with fantasy. She creates this story that pulls you in and keeps you invested till the end.

Signa is a heroine who has lived a sheltered life, away from most of the society she was born into. She starts as a naive young woman and throughout the book she becomes a woman who stands up for herself and learns who she is. I loved reading about Signa’s journey throughout the book.

In the last few chapters, it dropped off a bit. It felt rushed and like the writing changed a bit. But it was still fantastic and with the way it ended- I’m so excited for the next book!

Overall, this book was absolutely fantastic and I would absolutely recommend it to those who love the gothic, mysteries, and fantasy!

This book really grabbed my attention and immediately made me want to know more about Signa and her odd relationship with death. Orphaned when she was just a baby she has lived an isolated life filled for the most part with family members who just want her money. Leaving her to her own devices she grows up thinking she isn’t normal, which makes her covet a life of the ton. Fancy parties, dresses, and a gentleman to love her and take away all her problems.

For a small part of the book Signa is almost annoying in her convictions to be normal. Trying to constantly ignore the spirits she runs into and make her relationship with death this awful terrible burden. I am happy to say her attitude doesn’t last long and she starts to change as she investigates the mysteries of Thorn Grove.

The mystery itself had me guessing constantly and always wondering who did it and why! As she continues to investigate the estate she also gets closer to death and their relationship is so sweet. It reminded me of Callie and Desmond from Rhapsodic. A lot of misunderstanding but a truer love than either could ever imagine!

This book isn’t smutty, which is okay the slow burn build up was great and there is a single segg scene tastefully done and still sensual. It is open door but not explicit.

The ending sets up for another book, which I am interested to see what that one will be about! Either way it’s about to go down! Whatever happens I am excited to see more of Death and Signa’s relationship!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶🌶/5

I enjoyed the murder mystery a lot. All the spooky/gothic vibes were well done. Loved the twist at the end. Can't wait to read book 2.

A restless spirit, mysterious illness, family estate, and Death helping solve the mystery? This checked so many boxes for me.

I love a gothic atmosphere, and it absolutely dripped from the pages throughout this book. I’m also a fan of the 1850s time period. Signa hasn’t had an easy upbringing. Orphaned as an infant, she’s passed around to several guardians, most of them caring more about the allowance that comes along with her than Signa herself. When she’s taken in by the Hawthornes, distant cousins, her dreams of a stable home and the opportunity to be introduced into society are finally coming true. But there’s something she’s never told anyone – she can communicate with spirits. When the ghost of recently deceased Mrs. Hawthorne requests her help, and maybe not in such a nice way, Signa finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Time is of the essence because the family’s daughter seems to be suffering from the same illness that killed her mother.

I haven’t come across too many novels featuring Death as a character, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about him at first. He escorts people to the other side, so that can’t be good, right? My perception of him gradually changed throughout the story as I came to understand exactly what he does, and it’s actually kind of beautiful. He and Signa share an unusual bond I won’t spoil. She’s still unsure of exactly where she belongs, but her journey to understanding is wondrous. Signa makes some reckless decisions, but she’s persistent, and I enjoyed watching them solve the mystery. I had part of it figured out, but the final reveal was a shocker. Didn’t see that one coming.

I’d originally believed this to be a standalone, but was thrilled to see another book is coming. If you’re a fan of atmospheric, gothic mysteries interlaced with a bit of romance and magic, you can’t go wrong with Belladonna.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“It began with the cry of a baby”

This definitely sets the tone for the story as it is the opening line of the book. What could happen with just the cry of a baby? Who will she be? What things will she do? Wondrous, dark things.

“ ‘Do you believe in ghosts, Mr. Thorly?’
‘Don’t take me for a fool, Miss Farrow. In a place like Thorn Grove, how could I not?’ ”

I definitely think there are spirits still lingering in this world around us that we can’t see. Both loved ones protecting & helping to guide us and other spirits malicious in their intent to harm us.

“...’I’ve never seen you so demure, and so sickeningly stifled.’...
‘And what does that matter to you?’...
‘It matters because you're better than that. You were not made to be meek and wanting…’ ”

Signa has grown up alone & shunned so all she has ever wanted was to fit in. When she is finally given that chance to socialize with other ladies her age, she hides all that she finds fault in her personality, but there is one person who hates seeing her this way, knows that she will never fit in and why should she?

“...I’ve spent the entirety of my existence waiting for you.”

I think we all want someone who shares with us this one small, but powerful line. That we were destined for one person, who is the other half of us. The missing piece to our puzzle in this harsh, dark thing we call our existence.

“But she understood now why Death had done all that he did. Understood why he’d given people an early end, all because he’d been selfish. All because he wanted to protect her. “

Signa finally realizes who she is, who she wants to be, and who she will become. She is someone willing to sacrifice the world for those she cares for. She is strong-willed and strong-minded. She is dark, she can interact with forces beyond the mortal plane. She is not an abomination, she is exactly who she is supposed to be.

The first half was a bit slower but I enjoyed the story as a whole. I really enjoyed the mystery associated with the Hawthorne family as well as the overarching mystery of figuring out Signa's true identity and why she can be so close to Death, unaffected by his magic. The relationship between her and Death took a bit for me to buy in to, however. I loved Sylas. Also, the masquerade scene......!!! Great set up to become a series and I'm really excited for Foxglove!

My one gripe was the endless references to puzzles....I get that it's a mystery but WOW, I was so tired about all the various "puzzle pieces" referenced throughout the book...WE GET IT!!! Is there no other analogy that can be thrown in there???