Spoiler Free Review

THIS BOOK SHOULD BE THE BLUE PRINT FOR ROMANTASY. It is the perfect balance between romance and fantasy. Belladonna definitely came out before the current romantasy trend really took off too.

Romance definitely can exist in a fantasy world but with the addition of fantasy in the genera I expect some more plot mixed in.

Belladonna really balanced both halves of romantasy very well. I also really love the setting and ghosts through out the book. It felt like the perfect touch of history and horror to add to the story.

I haven’t picked up the other books in the series yet but I have bought all of them already and will probably read them in time for the novella.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book. The gothic setting, the prose, the concept, the character building, the world building. All in all, definitely one I would recommend

Eerie, enchanting, and beautifully written, Belladonna pulls readers into a darkly romantic world brimming with mystery. Adalyn Grace crafts an atmospheric tale that lingers long after the final page. With lyrical prose and haunting allure, this story is a captivating journey through shadows, secrets, and the delicate dance with death.

Belladonna is a fun, fast paced YA fantasy that uses a mix of elements of historical fiction, magic, and gods to create a world where nothing is as it seems and the truth is hard to find. The main setting is the estate of a wealthy family member of Signa, who manages to become orphaned many times over her lifetime. As she tries to save her newest family from danger, she learns more about herself and the family.

The world-building is a bit broad so it isn't comprehensively detailed or thorough. This book has a bit of a gothic feel to it.

I'm almost mad at how long it took me to read this. Loved the gothic vibes and the murder mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end.

Love, love, loved this one!! It’s alluring and charming and mysterious. A whodunit mixed with a bit of supernatural elements. Excited to see what the rest of the series reveals!

Such a great book. It was mysterious and had you guessing whodunnit. It was interesting to see Signas interactions with death and their dynamic.

Hauntingly Beautiful and Addictively Dark

Adalyn Grace’s Belladonna is a gothic fantasy with an intoxicating blend of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. The atmospheric writing immediately draws you into Thorn Grove, where Signa Farrow—cursed with a strange connection to Death—navigates a world of wealth, secrets, and murder.

The book’s biggest strength is its lush, immersive prose. The gothic vibes are impeccable, and the romance, especially with Death as a character, is both eerie and deeply compelling. Signa is a strong, independent protagonist, and the slow-burn relationship with Death is intriguing and unique. The mystery surrounding the Hawthorne family keeps the plot engaging, though some twists were predictable.

The reason for four stars instead of five? The pacing lags in the middle, and some side characters could have been fleshed out more. However, the novel’s darkly romantic atmosphere and emotional depth make it a standout in the gothic fantasy genre.

If you love books with eerie mansions, spectral romances, and heroines who defy fate, Belladonna is well worth the read!

A dark, atmospheric fantasy with a gripping premise and strong world-building. While the central romance feels a bit forced, the mystery and suspense keep things engaging. A solid read with room for improvement in pacing. 3.5 stars

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a dark, gothic fantasy with a twist of romance and mystery. The story follows Signa, a young woman who has grown up surrounded by death. After being orphaned, she’s sent to live with her wealthy, secretive relatives in a mansion full of secrets. When one of her family members is found dead, Signa discovers she has the ability to see and communicate with spirits. As she tries to uncover the truth about the death, she’s drawn into a dangerous game where nothing is quite what it seems.

What makes this book so captivating is its atmosphere. The author does an amazing job creating a haunting, eerie vibe that keeps you on edge throughout. Signa is a strong and interesting main character, and her journey to solve the mystery while grappling with her own powers is gripping. There’s a little bit of romance in the mix too, but it’s not the main focus of the story, there’s more emphasis on Signa’s personal growth and her unraveling the secrets around her.

The pacing is pretty fast, with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. The mix of magic, suspense, and creepy vibes made it hard to put down. If you like dark fantasy with a mysterious plot and a strong, relatable heroine, Belladonna is definitely worth reading. It’s a page-turner with enough mystery and tension to keep you hooked until the end.

absolutely hooked from the first pages! a girl that doesn't die! sign me up! Signa goes through so much in her life, growing up not understanding why the things that happen to her are happening. She encounters Death (reaper) and she can't seem to shake how she feels around him. I love the depth of the story, the dark theme, the spirits we encounter and the murder mystery! There is a found family trope and some really insightful parts I adored.

I know this is a very popular romantasy series so I finally picked up the first book. However, the romance was kind of weird throughout with her falling in love with death.

I had an idea of what was happening early on with the families but the character change did throw me at the end.

I really wanted more murder from the story.

Thank you to Hachette for the review copy.

Just look at that gorgeous cover! The mystery kept me turning pages and guessing all throughout! I am excited to read the next book.

I absolutely loved the introduction to her trilogy. Adalyn really knows how to write a wonderful set of characters that keeps me interested throughout the entire book. I will definitely be recommending this to YA readers, and the cover is gorgeous, too!

Very good and also enjoyed as audiobook. Would recommend either option! I immediately added the next one to my tbr to watch for it’s released when I finished this one. Enjoyed it as well.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a very long time. The cover is everything and I was SO excited to dive into this book. A romance with Death, a gothic haunted house, ghosts and poisons. This is everything I could have wanted in a book.

Signa is our 19 year old main character whom Death has followed for her entire life. Taking her parents and multiple guardians, Signa is finally sent to the Hawthornes, her long lost family, to start her new life. Unfortunately for her, Death follows closely to her new home. She soon finds herself in a murder mystery haunted house where only she can save her cousin from slipping into Deaths grasps. The longer she is around Death though, the more she see’s that Death is trying to help her and not work against her as she thought. Signa has to solve the tangle of the family web that are the Hawthornes and find out who is trying to kill off her family and hopefully save her new life.

This book had everything I wanted in it, theoretically. I really enjoyed the family mystery and back story. I thought the Hawthornes were everything and really like unraveling their story. Every time you thought you knew what was going on, Adalyn switched it up on you. I loved the whole Signa and Death story line as well. The haunted house and their relationship reminded me a bit of Hades and Persephone.

Unfortunately this story just wasn’t everything I wanted it to be. Like I said, everything was THERE, it just fell a bit flat. I felt like it was very YA but with some spice which felt strange to me. I also felt like Signa was so back and forth with Death and we kept having the same conversation over and over. I didn’t feel particularly close to any of the characters and they kind of fell flat for me. This book took much longer than to finish than expected because I just could not care about some parts of the book.

Overall, I have this book a 3 out of 5. I am still on the fence if I will read the next one.

This was a fun, atmopsheric, YA fantasy romance. I can see how this series is super popular now, with the demand for Romantasy. I loved the concepts and the general vibe of the story. That said the protagonist fell a bit flat, and her love interest fell even more flat for me. I look forward to the rest of the books, where I hope the characters can shine as much as the overall concept and the world!

Fantastic. Gorgeous, lush world building and lyrical writing combine to being a unique take on the personification of Death and swoon-worthy romance. It is easily one of my top favorite reads of the year. The gothic feel of the setting and overall story was so well done.

I cannot believe I read a love corner where there was Death being all soft and hot, and me being like "don't forget about the stable boy tho," only for there to be the greatest plot twist possible that had me GASPING.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! I was so excited to read this book as most everyone! I absolutely fell in love with this book! I cannot wait to read more by Adalyn Grace!