"Because I have waited an eternity to meet you, Signa Farrow." The words were a balm she clung to, relished. "To me, you are a song to a soul that has never known music. Light to someone who has only seen the darkness. You bring out the absolute worst in me, and I become vindictive toward those who treat you in ways I don't care for. Yet you also bring out the best in me--I want to be better because of you. Better for you."

Honestly prepare for this book to become my whole personality!!! It's a new all time fave of mine.

I was so enchanted this whole book. Signa can see Death, and when she arrives at Thorn Grove with her last living distant relatives, she is determined to make sure that none in her new family will succumb to him this time. The Hawthrones are a family shattered as Lillian, the matriarch, suffered a mysterious illness and died - and now her ghost is demanding that Signa find the truth of what really happened to her. This book took so many twists and turns I did not see where it was going! This was one where I was truly blindsided by the plot twist.

Signa herself goes through a really beautiful journey. Shuffled from relative to relative as a child after the death of her parents, all she wants is to claim her place in society and fit in with the crowd. But as the novel unfolds, she discovers how constraining the rules of society can be, and how hard it is to try and fit in a society that has extreme demands on women to be perfect. I loved to see how she grappled with her desire to be accepted and her desire to find out the extent of her powers.

The writing!!! was phenomenal! One of my favorite aspects of this book was the prose - there were some really beautiful lines that lended themselves wonderfully to set the Gothic tone. At the same time, the writing wasn't so flowery as to be bogged down. I think it was the perfect example of YA writing - flowery when needed to be, but otherwise accessible and addicting. I really feel like Adalyn Grace's writing shone in the romantic scenes. I loved this romance so, so much and it was truly the perfect Gothic romance. There is so much yearning and intrigue between these characters!! I honestly teared up at some points with the beautiful words they exchanged. The ending of this book also set up the next book perfectly, and I will be reading it the second I get my hands on it!!!!!

well, I really did not expect to like this romance story. I guess the bad evil guy is my trope. What a fun way to tell the story of Death.

Signa cannot die, and is followed by death through out her life, She wants to die, or kill Death himself, Until finally she understands, that there might be something else in store for her. She is given a chance and help to save one of her last remaining family members, and create something good for herself,

I loved this Gothic, atmospheric tale. Especially the enemies to lovers, and the unexpected ending.

Cannot wait for more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

CWs: poisoning, death, murder, fire

4.5 stars

This was such a good read. I got completely enthralled in the mystery and the story, and I absolutely flew through most of the book. It did take me about 30% to get really, really captured by the story, but it was more me just not wanting to read anything than the book.
The narration flows really well, and even though it’s third person, we still get access to most of Signa’s thoughts and feelings. I liked seeing her conflicted feelings over her strange powers and her changing relationship and feelings towards Death.
Signa was a fantastic character. Isolated most of her life because her guardians keep dying, Signa wants to debut and secure her place in society. However, when she is taken in by the Hawthornes, she’s pulled into a mystery and begins to learn that society might not be what she desires. Watching Signa solve the mystery was entertaining, but it was her relationships with Death, Sylas, Blythe, and Percy that kept me really intrigued. I think the characters were well written and really added to the story. Death was especially interesting, and I loved reading about him.
I really enjoyed this historical murder mystery. It was gothic, romantic, and exciting. I already can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed this one. I was surprised by the reveals in the end, but I was hoping for a bit more romance.

Had to DNF. Could not get into the story with the MC. The writing is great, just the MC was lacking something for me. Especially with the relationship with death, I just could not get into the romance aspect of the story. While I also do enjoy YA, I also felt the MC could have been written a bit more mature IMO. This is a good story for readers that really enjoy YA writing, and dark romance.

Adalyn Grace never fails to amaze me with her ability to take dark gothic stories and bring them to life. I’m usually not a fan of gothic novels as they tend to bore me, but Belladonna had a healthy blend of atmospheric/haunting scenes mixed with thrilling plot arcs and twists.

If I’m being completely honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this being marketed as a YA fantasy romance. If I were to label it, I would call it a new adult paranormal mystery. The story follows a 19-year-old girl named Signa who has a mysterious connection to Death (as in, the Grim Reaper, capital D Death). When she’s placed in the care of a new home, she discovers that the manor is haunted. Not only that, but the spirit of the recently-deceased matron of the estate claims that her death wasn’t an accident—she was murdered.

As you might be able to tell from the blurb and my summary paragraph, the main plot arc deals with Signa trying solve a whodunnit murder mystery with the help of a few allies, including Death himself. There is a romance arc intertwined with this mystery, but I thought of that as more of a featured element rather than a defining genre. The reason I’d say this a new adult rather than a young adult novel is because Signa is 19 and there is even a semi-descriptive sex scene included in the book.

The plot of Belladonna is both original and addicting. From the very first page I was drawn into the story, which is a testament to Adalyn Grace’s immense writing ability. The characters are well-written with intensive character backgrounds and personalities, and the end of the book was the perfect setup for the series to continue.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Belladonna to fans of dark murder mysteries and I would, in general, recommend any of Adalyn Grace’s books to anyone interested in reading them.

I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I'd give this book a solid 4.5. I enjoyed it much more than her duology.

Imagine you're like royalty but treated less than, a true Cinderella if you will. But instead of talking to animals you can talk to spirits. Signa is that girl who lived, the soul survivor of a poisonous ball. Heir to a fortune but shuffled from one family member to another bc they just can't seem to stay alive.

Did I mention she has slight superhuman powers and can see and talk to Death himself?! And with these powers she solves murders like a true murderino!

The plot is good, she grows into her powers. There's a slight love triangle, with a twist, if that's your troupe. A fairytale true crime if you will. I highly recommend you read it!

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟

How can i give this but 5 stars— I CANNOT! HOLY PERFECTION & it was EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING!— it gets ALL of the stars!!!!

Just…

“"Because I have waited an eternity to meet you, Signa Farrow." The words were a balm she clung to, relished. "To me, you are a song to a soul that has never known music. Light to someone who has only seen the darkness. You bring out the absolute worst in me, and I become vindictive toward those who treat you in ways I don't care for. Yet you also bring out the best in me--I want to be better because of you. Better for you.”
(This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)


Do with this what you will… but this book is my mood for the damn foreseeable future!

*phew* breathe, Ashley, breathe.

Adalyn Grace is a Goddess among mere mortals! This book was BRILLIANT!

If it were not clear enough… 1000% recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, & Adalyn Grace for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

minus the epilogue i don't think this needed to be a series tbh. i enjoyed this for the most part but some of it got a little slow. i did have a few problems with the romance as well. overall this was an okay read but i don't think i would be rushing to get my hands on the next one.

thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Adalyn Grace does it again.

I was a huge fan of her All the Stars and Teeth duology, and was so excited to get my hands on Belladonna. From the moment I read the description, I knew I was going to absolutely love it.

If you are a fan of Margaret Owen's Little Thieves and Lyndall Clipstone's Lakesedge, then you will definitely fall in love with the world that Grace has created.

The story follows 19-year-old Signa, who knows Death more intimately than most. Orphaned as a baby, she's spent her whole life bouncing from distant relative to distant relative, all of them meeting an untimely demise. But all of that is set to change when Signa is placed at Thorn Grove, the estate of her last living relatives. Though what she doesn't except is for Death to already be waiting for her there. Teaming up with the shadowy entity she thought she hated, Signa must find out who's trying to kill the last of her family.

Part murder mystery, part sweeping gothic romance, Belladonna promises to be the start of yet another series of stories from Grace to look out for!

Read it for the Regency-era, gothic vibes, stay for the delicious romance and sordid mystery! Signa is a wonderful protagonist that I rooted for from page 1. Death is the dark and moody figure of your dreams. Together, they created a story I couldn't put down if I wanted to!

Cover Story: Return of Big Face
BFF Charm: Yay!
Talky Talk: Ghostly Gothic
Bonus Factors: Haunted House
Relationship Status: Down for a Second Date

Cover Story: Return of Big Face

What is this, 2012?! I thought we left Big Faces in the Obama administration but I guess not. Besides the Big Face, there’s the flowers-growing-into-veins thing happening which I’m giving 3/10 Photoshop stars to. And I don’t know how to explain it but that typeface used for the title reminds me of a 90s Nickelodeon cartoon. This cover screams “I AM READING A YA BOOK” in a way that covers did back when adults reading YA was still something that got a snarky retort. I like to think we have evolved as a species since then, so I’m not going to tell you to brown bag it, but I DO think I would’ve liked to have seen something more modern than this, in the vein of the A Lesson in Vengeance cover.

The Deal

Orphaned as a baby, Signa has always been able to see two things that other people can’t: dead people, and Death himself. She has been ushered from one distant family member to another, all more interested in her inheritance than her well-being, and they never live very long. Signa’s last hope is the mysterious Hawthorne family, her distant cousins who are each mourning the recent death of their matriarch in different ways.

When Signa moves in, she realizes that Lillian Hawthorne was murdered, and Lillian’s young daughter Blythe is likely next. Signa has always had the ability to toe the line between life and death, so she calls for an unlikely truce with her long-time antagonist Death to figure out who is targeting the Hawthornes.

BFF Charm: Yay!

Yay BFF Charm
Despite sharing a name with my health insurance company, Signa was pretty cool. She had a traumatic childhood, being shuffled around between borderline abusive extended family members who were trying to steal her inheritance. But she isn’t bitter or angry – she’s actually quite loving, trusting, and empathetic. She’s quick to put her supernatural talents to use to help her sick cousin Blythe, and isn’t afraid to put herself at risk to help others.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

I knew very little about this book when I started it, so in the early chapters when I began to suspect that there might be some will-they-won’t-they happening between Signa and the Grim F’king Reaper, I was like OH HELL YES. And this story did not disappoint. Death was charismatic and sexy and mysterious, and the romance felt so secretive and forbidden. This romance will probably not be for everyone – as a matter of fact, I know some people will find it problematic, since Death has known Signa since she was a child and he’s like, idk, 500 years old or something. But I’m choosing to suspend disbelief. Don’t come at me!

There is a bit of a love triangle with a stable boy named Sylas that is totally worth mentioning! I liked Sylas! But I was VIBING with Death, you know?

Talky Talk: Ghostly Gothic

There are a lot of things I loved about this book: the murder mystery, the romance, the setting. Grace does an incredible job setting a scene and creating characters that I loved (Signa, Death) and characters that I wasn’t sure if I could trust (Death, everyone else). There were a few twists along the way that kept the book exciting, though I won’t pretend like I didn’t suspect them all along.

My main issue with the book – and it really is a small issue in the grand scheme of things – was that the prose sometimes felt a little stiff. I don’t think we’re ever given an official date, but the book seems to be set during a Victorian time period, with Signa trying to navigate the intricacies of coming out in society, so I thought maybe the stiffness was Grace’s attempt at formality. It didn’t keep me from getting lost in the story, but maybe kept me from getting lost in it earlier than I did.

Bonus Factor: Haunted House


This is one of those books where the setting almost becomes a character in and of itself. The Hawthorne house plays host to Elijah’s glitz and glam Gatsby-style parties, but it’s also shrouded in darkness and filled with ghosts! So it really set the stage for some spookiness.

Relationship Status: Down for a Second Date

While I don’t know that this book really needed a sequel, the last page sets us up for one, and tbh I am down to clown with a second book. I have no idea where this series is going to take me but its spooky sensibilities are right up my alley and I have a questionable ship to root for.

Belladonna has a unique blend of gothic elements, paranormal romance, and mystery.

Signa Farrow was a girl who could not die.
She was also the girl who could see Death.

Death was my absolute favourite.

You need this if you love:
The maiden trope
Atropa Belladonna
Paranormal romance
Mystery
Murder
Death

I loved this so much. From the very first page, I felt completely immersed in Signa’s world and fell in love with both her and Death. Her evolution from wanting so desperately to fit in to being unapologetically herself was seamless and felt completely natural. The gothic vibe was PERFECT for Fall and really put me in the mood for spooky season. I went into this thinking it was a standalone and was elated to find out it wasn’t after reading the epilogue and double checking Goodreads to make sure! Can’t wait to read the next one.

~belladonna review~
•
5/5
•
I love Adalyn Grace so i knew i had to request this one asap! The concept and cover are amazing and i’m so so excited to dive in
•
Pros:
+starts with a bang
+what an interesting main character
+i appreciate that most of the men have black hair #thatsmytype
+i love thé names in this. like signa and sylas are so cool
+omg why is Death so cool in this. like protecting her and being all mysterious
+also what a unique power and concept for a story
+animals being able to see Death and him petting a dogs head omg
+i love a whodunit story
+lol percy at the etiquette lessons is SO me
+banter and angst
+DEATH TOUCHING HER OMG
+little bird!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+blythe the feminist
+i love a good period piece. giving very bridgerton esque.
+THIS IS STEAMY OMG
+plot twist
+i want the next book rn WHAT
•
Cons:
-i lowkey hate when authors write stuff like “she didn’t notice this but if she did she would have known _____” like no she didn’t notice it so i don’t want to either don’t tease me like that
-i’m getting a bad feeling about one of the characters… i really hope it’s not a plot twist
•
okay i thoroughly enjoyed this book! it had me squealing out loud at parts and had such a unique idea. i love death and signa and think everyone should read this one!!

Belladonna is the story of Signa, an orphan who is set to inherit wealth when she comes of age. When her current guardian suffers an unfortunate fate, she is placed into the care of a new guardian. Yet unbeknownst to them, Signa can see Death himself. And Death has an interest in Signa. For she has a secret…she cannot die.

Belladonna was an enjoyable and fantasy-filled read. My favorite part was the stunning descriptions and attention paid to the sensory details. The setting and aesthetic felt perfect. However, at times there is a focus on over-elaboration of plot points that seems to show a lack of trust in readers to come to the conclusions on their own. Signa must go over the same idea multiple times before the plot can progress, leading to awkward pacing.

Signa herself has so much potential, but she felt underwhelming to me. For example, Signa spends a great deal of time obsessed with the “proper” way to do things, despite living an unconventional life with magical powers. I can appreciate that this is a way to show character growth, but it felt tedious at times. As the characters resolve the mystery, the pacing of the conclusion seemed rushed, although I did think the answer to the mystery was satisfying.

I love the idea behind this book and am curious to see if the story continues! I think Grace has left the door open for a continuation of the series. Grace imparts several poignant lessons through Signa which deal with grief, confidence, and knowing your own power. I would recommend Belladonna to those who enjoy a murder mystery, fantasy aesthetics, and writing filled with beautiful details. Thank you to Adalyn Grace, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Belladonna | Adalyn Grace

Do I Recommend This Book: Meh

Would I have liked it a bit more had I known it was a series: Maybe

What I Enjoyed About It:
The Gothic Aspects
Signa’s Origin Story
The Mystery
How Signa came into her own
Death being just as I imagined them
Thorn Grove
Ghosts
The Library
🖤Sylas🥀
REAPER POWERS
The Plot Twists

What I wished was included more
GOTHIC AMBIANCE
REAPER POWERS
LIBRARY
GHOST Backstories
BLYTHE
CHARLOTTE
Shocking Details

#POCReviewer #BIPOC #Netgalley #EArc #Kindle #Books #Devil #Signa #Sylas #ThornGrove #Mystery #Horror #Gore #Ghosts #Whodidit #Lillian #Percy #Elijah #Blythe #Death #Hotforteacher #Reaper #FallVibes

Honestly this book was everything that I wanted from it. It captivated since the very beginning and the story was just something that I didn't know I was craving. It is a perfect fall read, with his dark gothic and paranormal themes. It had a nice bit of mystery that unraveled throughout the read as well.

And the twist and cliffhanger at the end! I cannot wait for the second book.

After reading Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, it is in my top 5 favorite Young Adult books for this year. The story grips you from the very first sentence and doesn't let you go until the very last one. Honestly though, even then, it just leaves you wishing for book two. Adalyn Grace really done a remarkable job with this book!

Signa Farrow was born into one of the wealthiest families imaginable. But one day, her mother dies of poison, and she is forced into bouncing around guardians, all her wanting her for one thing, her inheritance. Strangely, every guardian that Signa has been with dies mysteriously. Until Signa finds herself at Thorn Grove. It's a beautiful manor with many secrets, including a mourning ghost that only Signa can see. Signa will have to use her gifted sight to find a killer- before time runs out. Belladonna is set in a victorian like Europe, with imagery of ballgowns, tea parties and proper manners. It's a beautiful setting, and perfect for one of mystery, intrigue and love. And although this isn't a perfect book by all means, I think the author executed what she wanted to, the message, setting and characters were thought out. What I am not a fan of, is the fluff in the middle- it didn't add anything to the plot and made it harder to get through the book.

~4.5~
This book was the first one I've finished to come out of my reading slump and I love it! The slow burn romance in this was to die for and the storyline was fun to read. I loved the concept of her being able to see Death, to survive what she was doing, and to be able to communicate. The mystery aspect was unexpected but I loved the addition. It was a nice YA read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fantasy, mystery read.