Aaahhhhhhhh!!!! How are other people not screaming about this book from the rooftops???

The most unique fantasy I’ve read in years, I absolutely LOVED it.

It’s dark and delicious. Signa’s growth was wonderful, but I feel as though Death stole the show.

The final twist was well done! And the ending left me hooked and ready for more!

"Your name is no curse, Little Bird. I just like the taste of it."

This book is unlike any book I've ever read. I can't quite name it, but there's just some quality that feels almost dreamy. I honestly couldn't put it down, but I kept putting it down because I didn't want it to end. Complicated emotions, but all of them good. I CONSUMED this book.

For fans of:
- Death and the Maiden
- the Victorian Era
- Conspiracies and Murder Mysteries

I think this was the first ARC I requested a few months ago. I LOVE the Death and the Maiden trope but the only place I've ever seen it fully realized is the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. So, when I saw that Belladonna specifically included the trope, I was really excited. I was so sure I was gonna like it that I pre-ordered two copies. And I was right. Belladonna has me by the throat.

This was, at its core, a coming-of-age story. Signa hasn't been sheltered, but she's been secluded from society all her life. She has big ideas and dreams for what her life will be when she enters society. I liked that as she got a taste of that life, she realized that it was what she expected, but that it wasn't what she wanted. Usually, the protagonist will realize their IDEAS were wrong, rather than their desires, so it's a refreshing difference.

I love Signa and I love Death, but Blythe might be my favorite character. I will be stealing her entire personality. The entire cast was delightful and I hope we get to read more about them in the next book. And the plot twists! All of the plot twists! I felt like I was on a Tilt-A-Whirl, but in a good way. It had me jumping around the book, realizing some odd detail was actually foreshadowing. I'll definitely need to do a second read.

Okay, Miss Grace. Now, WHERE is the next one??

Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC.

If I tell you right here and now that I highlighted nearly 50% of the book, will that make you want to read it? Because friends, it was that good!

There are a few reasons why I’m considering Belladonna my favorite fantasy book of 2022:

First and foremost, it is cozy as heck. It primarily takes place during autumn and it exudes autumnal comfort and warmth throughout the entire story. It would be the perfect book to pick up during October for Halloween. It’s not scary, but definitely a bit eerie, and the exact kind of book that a more sensitive reader (such as myself) would want to read during that season. I’ve used the term “cozy creepy” in a few of my reviews and I’d definitely place Belladonna in that category.

It is incredibly descriptive and atmospheric, making you completely forget that you’re reading. So many of the pieces that I highlighted throughout the story were just descriptions, moments where the author described Signa’s eyes, Death’s shadows, Hawthorne House, Lillian’s garden, a ballgown, or the way the autumn season presented itself. It was all so beautifully written that I found myself getting lost in it over and over again, forgetting that I was reading and just truly living it. Those are my favorite kinds of books.

It made you think you knew what was happening, only to surprise you later on! Let me describe this a bit better. You know those stories where you’re convinced something is predictable, so you tell yourself it can’t be that and it’s totally something else, but then you’ve convinced yourself so much that the predictable thing winds up shocking you when it does happen? That’s kind of how this felt. Only, it wasn’t really predictable. It just felt right when certain moments occurred. I liked those moments of, “ah yes, that makes perfect sense” just as much as the moments of, “OMG WHAT?!?!”

THE CHARACTERS. That’s it. That’s all I need to really say. The cast was spectacular. Everyone was a little grey. Everyone was a little unlikeable in a way that made them lovable. You feel as though you’re rooting for the bad guys, but in a satisfying way. The character dynamics (and even bits of the plot) reminded me of a mash-up of several favorite books: Echo North (Echo and Hal), The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (Addie and Luc), and The Inheritance Games (Avery and Jameson).

Adalyn Grace has mentioned a couple of her favorite chapters on Instagram and I was pleased to find that the chapters she loved were also some favorites of my own. They held shock, romance, and too many gorgeous quotes for me to even list in this review. Plus, I want you to read the book and experience them yourself!

I never thought I could love anything this author wrote more than I loved All the Stars and Teeth, but Belladonna blew me away. Before I was even a quarter of the way through it, I preordered a signed copy so I could read it again and again. It’s absolutely magnificent in every way and I could honestly blather on about it endlessly. If you pick up only one book this year, let it be Belladonna. I promise you won’t regret it!

[CW: (major) Gore, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Vomit, (moderate) Suicide attempt*, Addiction, Body horror, Sexism, Blood, and Physical abuse
*the protagonist has the ability to cheat death and tries various methods to test the theory]

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

CONTENT WARNING: death, abuse, murder, gore, blood, violence, vomit

I have to admit, I don’t take a lot of stock in not judging books by their cover. Because that’s the first thing that caught my attention, and I’m so glad that I was already half sold on the book because of this gorgeous cover. Because the story inside captured my attention even more than the cover did, with a style even more compelling than Grace’s previous books had.

We’re quickly introduced to Signa, our protagonist. She was orphaned as an infant, and despite a large trust waiting for her and no shortage of potential guardians, it doesn’t guarantee love or good care. The only constant in her life is the presence of Death. As in … the guy who comes to collect souls when people die. He shows up regularly, as the people around her die and she’s shuffled from home to home, never quite fitting in. It also doesn’t help that Signa sees ghosts. And when her most recent guardian dies 6 months before she is able to access her inheritance, she’s sent to the last relative she has left—the Hawthorne family.

But when she arrives at Thorn Grove, things aren’t copacetic. The wife has recently passed away from a mysterious illness, the daughter is suffering from the same thing and it isn’t looking good, and the father is collapsing under the weight of his grief. As Signa attempts to find her place in this gloomy, mysterious place, she’s drawn into figuring out what happened by the ghost of the recently deceased lady of the manor. She’s not sure who she can trust, and relies on the only person who seems willing to help: a strange groom from the stables who seems to have some secrets that she can’t quite figure out. Oh, and Death.

Along the way, Signa figures out a lot about herself and where she wants to be in society. She chafes between staying true to herself and the strict expectations of society. At first, she’s desperate to fit in, but over the course of the novel, as she begins to prepare to make her debut and socialize with other young women (and men) her own age, she starts to question what she really wants. There are several young women that she interacts with, and while Signa is concerned with making real connections with others and helping to save her cousins life, her peers seem more concerned with gossip and making a good match with a marriageable man. She also realizes that marriage will change her ability to be independent, since all of her assets will be transferred to her husband.

I loved the way she slowly came out of her shell, going from being isolated and mistreated to learning to become more social and trusting, as well as confident and expressing her own thoughts and desires more openly. And she’s very much a morally gray character, torn between doing the right thing as dictated by social terms and doing what she feels is right, which isn’t always the same thing. In addition, there was an amazing connection between Signa and Death, which I enjoyed seeing develop, since at first she didn’t trust him (understandably), but then she got to see a different side of him once she got to know him.

Obviously, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. While everything felt wrapped up with this story, the cliffhanger perfectly sets the tone for book two. This was a masterfully written story that kept me intrigued and engaged for the entire story, and was perfectly paced.

Death follows Signa everywhere she goes. Travelling from home to home, relative to relative, Signa's only constant is Death. After her most recent relative dies, she's sent to live with the Hawthorne's. However, not everything in the house is as it seems. All Signa wants is to be a normal girl and live a normal life, but when she is forced to form an alliance with death, normal starts to become the last thing she wants.

I wasn't expecting the murder mystery turn that this book took, but I was here for it. The Hawthorne patriarch is mourning the death of his wife, which you initially think is an illness, but it turns out that she was poisoned and her daughter, Blythe, seems to also have been poisoned. This book turns into a race against the clock to save Blythe and learn who poisoned both her and her mother.
I ripped through the last 100 pages, I yelled at my boyfriend whenever he tried to open his mouth because I was so invested. I adored Death and I had so many theories surrounding him (some very, very wrong). It really had some amazing gothic vibes and the characters were all strong. The writing was atmospheric and I was hooked from the first second.
Unfortunately, I thought this was a standalone... but boy oh boy it's not. And even worse? It ends on a cliffhanger. Not me going into a coma so that I can wake up and get my hands on the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for this ARC!
OK. I need to know when the second book is coming out! This was such an amazing, AMAZING read! Truly a beautifully written gothic masterpiece-I'm floored!
The lessons alone about death and learning to live and being yourself make this novel a fantastic read for both young adults and adults alike.
I adored the main character, Signa, and her relationships with all the other characters. I loved that I could truly feel all their emotions, and yet was kept at a distance to now know what was going on. It was fast-paced, emotional, mysterious, and kept me guessing everyone's motives the entire time! The plot twists were well-thought out and the story was phenomenal! Even though I predicted the plot twists, I was so thoroughly confused that I kept second guessing myself until the very end! Just simply incredible!

Calling all fantasy, romance, supernatural, spooky book lovers! Belladonna’s dark, gothic, mystical feel brought me to this story, but I stayed for the “who-done-it” mystery! Anytime there is a character that is unable to die, I am instantly draw to. Signa Farrow’s journey has been anything but easy, and when she goes to stay with new relatives, she finds herself in the middle of a ghost story. I really enjoyed seeing an older character (Signa turns 20 in the book) and her struggle with who she believes she is supposed to be, and who she really is. The cast of characters and the world that the author has created is nothing short of impressive. I cared for these characters! While I like to try and guess where the story is going to go, especially when there is a mystery involved, I was guessing up until the very end. To me, none of the reveals felt forced or too unbelievable. While there is also a romance woven into the story, it was just that, woven in at the right times and did not dominate the plot or detract from it. Grace blended all the elements of this adventure so nicely and then wacks us with an epilogue that makes you wish the next book was already out! I have been a fan of Adalyn Grace since All the Stars and Teeth and each story she puts out gets me increasingly excited for the next!

Teaming up with Death himself to solve murders sounds like a great storyline, if not contradictory. Belladonna is a fun to read book, I liked Signa's character and I liked finding about the mysteries through her character. Death was equally intriguing too, I liked reading about how his powers work. So overall, this is a quick and light read, with good atmosphere.

Given how much I love the death and mortal pairings, this was a bit of a let down because it lacked the emotional impact. In fact, this book doesn't fully explore most of the relationships it has and given how involved all of the characters are in the plot, I expected more depth to them. And the build up for the sequel in the epilogue felt unnecessary honestly as this book wraps up well on it's own. I guess I would've liked this book better if everything wasn't only touched at the surface level.

Thank you to Little, Brown for Young Readers and Netgalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would give Belladonna 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book well enough, the concept had me begging for the book the second it was announced but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I do think this could be someone's favorite book, my rating is more due to me being unable to lose myself in this book rather than the authors execution.

I struggled in the beginning as it was a bit slower and took a while to get to the actual plot. I love a good murder mystery so I enjoyed watching the characters unravel the mystery. Yes, some plot twists were easy to call out early on but I don't think that hurt the revelations as they were still intriguing. I wish the mystery had a bigger focus rather than Signa worrying about making her debut or her romances. I understand why these were focuses as Signa has never been able to do these things and it's all she believes she wants but I would have loved to see her fall more into the mystery as she found herself.

Her relationship with Death is a main reason why I wanted to read this book. I find him to be fascinating as well as Signa's connection to his world. I do wish we would have seen more on her training and her accepting this side of herself as it did feel more abrupt and once again romance focused. I did enjoy their interactions and their relationship.

I do think this could have been a stand-alone. I thought this was wrapping up nicely towards the end and I was liking where it was going. I felt like it could have been a great way to end their story, but I am interested to see what happens in Foxglove.

signa was orphaned as a baby. now nineteen, she has a list of family members who agreed to raise her just to gain a portion of her inheritance. but so far, all the family members she’s lived with have met their untimely deaths.

now, six months from her twentieth birthday, when she can have her inheritance to herself, she is off to what she hopes is her family member’s home. but thorn grove has a history of its own—a year ago, her aunt fell ill and died, and just recently, her cousin has taken on the same illness, and her future isn’t looking too great. but, from the spirit of her deceased aunt, signa quickly discovers that her aunt and cousin didn’t have a regular illness—they were poisoned. signa must find out who before she loses her cousin for good.

first, i want to say i’m glad i didn’t go into this expecting a romance story. though there was romance present, i think i may have been a bit disappointed had i gone into this for the romance. instead, this was a story about a girl who didn’t fit into society’s expectations for her—including her connection to death—becoming more comfortable with herself and doing everything in her power to save someone she just met. i loved reading about signa growing into her powers and embracing them instead of trying to get rid of them. i can’t wait to see where the next book takes her!

Wow, a truly gothic, haunting, romantic mystery. Belladonna had me sucked in from the very beginning. Signa Farrow is an orphan who seems to have an unfortunate string of bodies behind her. Death follows Signa wherever she goes and when she finally lands a home with extended family at the beautiful Thorn Grove, she’s determined to keep Death away from her and the family that has already dealt with the tragedy of losing a mother and wife. Even if the house seems to be haunted by her spirit.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I was so in love with the story and characters. The ending had me literally saying “NO” at the end because I cannot believe that cliffhanger.

I cannot wait for the sequel to this absolutely beautiful novel.

I absolutely LOVED Belladonna! It was a refreshing read that had me enthralled by Death himself.

Signa Farrow is a young woman who cannot die, yet those around her seem to be dropping like flies. This builds a rather complicated foundation for Signa and Death, the timeless entity whom only she can see and interact with. This romance/mystery/fantasy had me swooning, intrigued, and completely spellbound! The way this story unraveled had me glued to the page, and as someone who loves a good mystery, the ending took me by (almost) complete surprise.

Crimson Peak vibes + a decadent YA fantasy/romance = a definite favorite!

One thing is for sure--- the wait for Foxglove will be an interminable one.

This was one of the best reads I have read so far this year in 2022! I think this will be my favorite dark fantasy romance read this year and of all time. I absolutely loved the writing and the world building. The romance was not over the top but enough to keep my interested. These two love interests are different and unique and kept me wanting more. The only critique I would have would be to add a little more detail to the characters and a little more description to their appearances. Other than that, I have nothing to complain about. I am so excited for the book to officially release!

4.5⭐️
(will be posting this review to GoodReads and parts to Instagram)

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, that was something.

To start, I absolutely adore Signa. I think she’s a wonderful protagonist who tries so hard to conform to a society she doesn’t fit into because of her magical abilities. While she was influenced by people around her, her growth and choices were hers. She stuck to her gut feeling, whether she was right or wrong. The best way to describe her personality is by sharing how I loved her inner monologue in a scene where she, a 19 year old, was practically rolling her eyes at two grown men arguing. Her ambition and kindness paired really well with her bold attitude when it came to the mystery element and her dynamic with Death.

I have a couple thoughts on Death, while I love him as a character, I just find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that he’s known her since she was a baby while he’s timeless/immortal (for lack of a better word since he’s not technically a person). It’s a bit of a complex situation considering he’s been ‘waiting on her’ ages before he even knew of her existence, but it’s still uncomfortable and creepy. I wish they met later, like when she’s an adult. But overall, I do like him (he’s very sweet), though he felt more like a mentor more than a love interest for most of the book. But, I’m excited to see more of them and their growth together in the second book, especially with the mini speech he gave to her right before the epilogue.

This book was epic the twist and turns it took kept me on my toes which isn’t usually easy for a book to do but this one did amazing. I want to reread this around Halloween cause the spooky vibes were there!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

I don’t even know where to start with how much I love this book. Death as the love interest grew on me and I loved the growth between him and Signa. I didn’t see the tweets at the end but I love them. And I can’t wait for the next book. This is such a good book and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. There are 46 chapters along with a prologue and epilogue, but the chapters were on the shorter side which helped move the story along. I was trying to figure out if anything needed to be edited out and really, I can’t of anything in particular. Each scene and conversation served a purpose. So while it may look long, there’s nothing really filler about it.

The book constantly kept me guessing. More than half of my notes were my guesses on who was what, who did what, and who knows who. It was ridiculous, but all in good fun. Because I have my notes, I can see I waffled a few times on my guesses, but I love when stories do that. I want to be surprised, but also have an “of course this happened, it’s the only way” moment.

I really enjoyed Signa as a protagonist. There were a few moments where I thought I was going to be disappointed by her, but she took a different direction or a thorough explanation was given.

I didn’t realize this is the first book in a duology (it may be a trilogy but I only saw two books listed on GoodReads). The way things moved and set it up for another book makes sense and I can’t wait to read that next book.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Belladonna
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Adalyn Grace
ᴠɪʙᴇ↠ Death is a sexy ethereal being plus there is murder and ghosts
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ↠ Obsessed 💕

📖 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ:
💀 Death (the person & the verb)
🌺 A woman who cannot die
👻 Ghosts, ghosts everywhere
♥️ Enemies to lovers trope

💭 ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ:
↠ I was immediately pulled into this story and Signa’s strange life surrounded by death and her unusual abilities.

↠ I loved the gothic vibes and Signa’s sassy interactions with Death

↠ There was so much sexual tension packed into these pages and I loved every second of it

↠ A beautiful rich family struck down by tragedy and surrounded by mystery and a uniquely gifted woman that may be the only one able to find the murderer. This mystery had me guessing until the end. I kept jumping back and forth with who I thought the guilty party was.

↠ I literally picked this book up and didn’t put it down until I had finished it. I carried it around everywhere trying to sneak in more reading every chance I got.

↠ One of those books you will hide under your covers reading because you just can’t part with it!

As much as I love cliffhangers, I also hate waiting, and Foxglove cannot come soon enough and I am just crossing my fingers I can get my hands on the ARC of this one!
Belladonna is everything you want and more. It is a perfect combination of fantasy, mystery, thriller and paranormal romance in one perfectly written package.
This book gives you old gothic vibes with the complexities of family and self discovery.
I love character driven books, and this does not disappoint. Watching the evolution of our FMC Signa was next level and I loved how relatable she was to readers.
Death - who would have thought I would read a book where Death was one of my favourite characters? I didn’t. Yet here I am, thoroughly impressed and in love with the way he was portrayed.
Blythe - let me just start by saying, I cannot wait to see her in the sequel. I was unsure of how that storyline would evolve after such a disastrous first impression between her and Signa but I was pleased with how it took shape.
This was the first book I have read by Adalyn Grace and after this, it certainly will not be the last.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown Books and Adalyn Grace for the ARC of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!~

Belladonna follows Signa, a girl whom, no matter how hard she tries, cannot die. When she was an infant her mother and father were poisoned at a party and everyone died, everyone except baby Signa. When death came to take all of the souls to be sent to the afterlife, he touched Signa and saw not her past, but her future. Fast-forward to modern day and Signa is nineteen and constantly being bounced around from guardian to guardian. Until she can claim her inheritance at the age of twenty, she must rely on distant relatives that only want the allowance that comes with taking her into their care. All Signa wants is to kill Death, a being that has constantly come to her as she’s grown up. After an attempt on his Life, he tells her he wants nothing but to make sure she’s safe. A letter arrives from Thorn Grove and Signa embarks to her new home where she will learn so much about not only herself, but also her family.

You make Death itself a star character in a book and you have me hook, line, and sinker. I very much enjoyed all the characters in this book and the twist and turns it takes you on as you try to solve this spooky murder-mystery. An extremely refreshing take on Death and his role in the land of the living, a lot of Deadly Nightshade, high society with strong women that want to defy the standards set for them, characters you grow to love, intricate spirits and possessions, and a masquerade – what more could you ask for from a book? Although, I am uncertain how I’m supposed to come to terms with the fact that I am extremely attracted to Death now.

This book would be good for people who enjoyed Gallant by Schwab, but wanted more character focus over world building and some romance in the mix.

This book had me the moment Death called Signa, “Little bird”. Adalyn Grace is now an insta-buy author for me.