Well, that was a ride. This book is Kingdom of the Wicked mixed with Jane Eyre and a pinch of Bridgerton. Let me paint the picture for you:

It’s the 1850s and we’re following 19 year-old Signa Farrow. Signa lost her parents when she was a baby and, all things considered, she should’ve died too, but when Death came to collect her soul nothing happened. Death’s touch did not kill her. Turns out she cannot die, it also turns out she can see spirits. And she can see Death, actually more than see, but we’ll get there later.

Okay, so Signa was left orphaned and since she cannot claim her (huge) inheritance until she turns 20, she has spent her life moving from one guardian to the next because they all somehow ended up dead. With a string of deaths following her, everyone thinks she’s cursed and she hates Death for taking away everyone she has some sort of connection with.

The story starts with Signa being sent to Thorne Grove, the home of yet another guardian. Signa soon finds that the situation there is… not the best. Turns out Lillian, the lady of the estate and Signa’s aunt of sorts, died months ago and her cousin Blythe is now suffering from the same illness. Then Lillian’s spirit appears, claiming she was poisoned, and Signa has to discover what is going on in order to prevent Blythe from following the same fate. All while preparing to make her debut in society the following spring.

So we have ourselves a paranormal murder mystery, as well as the stiff rules and the pretending that comes with the 1850s society. Right. I didn’t care for any of it. I was here for the romance. And oh my god did it deliver.

In order to solve this murder, Signa enlists the help of a stable boy but soon realizes she will need the help of Death himself. The more time they spend together and the more he shows her, the more she realizes that she doesn’t hate him one bit and that maybe they’re just fated to keep crossing each other’s paths. Fate is a funny thing, after all.

Give me a romance with Death and I am sold. The only reason this is shy of 5 stars (4.5) is because the beginning was a little slow and I really didn’t care about the social life or solving the murder. I will say that I saw the plot twists coming, but I still couldn’t be happier when the big mind-blowing one came and my suspicions were confirmed. Now excuse me while I go pre-order myself a final copy of this book.

The best fantasy mystery I’ve ever read.
I was captivated from the very first line and I absolutely loved the idea of ‘solving a murder with the Death himself’. However the romance between Signa and Death felt forced and out of character. So many times their feelings for each other got more focus and I was worried that by the end the mystery turns to be fully romance.
In halfway through I realised who is Sylas and I was so happy that I was right.
The betrayal hit in the best way and even though my heart was broken I liked that twist. And of course there is the cliffhanger and I’ll happily read the next book when it comes out.


Thanks to Netgalley for approving my request!

(Review in exchange for netgalley earc)

This book was beautiful! That’s the main word I think of when I want to describe it. From page one I was gripped and I flew through this book in no time. This book is so up my street, I am obsessed. It has everything I love: beautiful descriptions and world building that immersive me into the time and place of the story. Well written characters that are equally well developed. A unique and gripping story full of twists and turns. It’s a period drama but also gothic horror with mystery and even some romance. A completely gorgeous and entrancing story that me completely captivated from start to finish. I cannot wait to revisit this book when it’s out, and again and again and again. I am obsessed with this book. I adored it. Every single page and word.

This book surprised me with just how good it was, since it is billed as YA, and by no stretch of the imagination can I pretend to be young! However there was no real difference between this and other gothic novels I have read recently, other than the young age of the main character (19) which honestly is standard in historical fiction anyway.

It follows Signa Farrow, an orphan who is passed from family member to family member until she ends up at the home of her widowed uncle, where she seeks to settle herself down and become a proper lady, as detailed in her book of etiquette, but her unusual supernatural capabilities - the ability to see and talk with spirits, and to consult with Death himself - stand in her way. As she uncovers the secrets hidden behind the walls of her new home, and learns from Death how to use her abilities, Signa finds out that there is someone who wishes the family harm, and she is the only one who can stop them.

The characters were vividly depicted, the supernatural elements were delightfully spooky, and Death himself was so charismatic that it was fairly obvious why Signa was drawn to him (#teamDeath) The romantic elements were steamy and all together it worked perfectly as a very satisfying gothic romance.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I can't count how often I've thought about requesting a review copy of this book on Netgalley. Almost as often I eventually decided to wait. I had a few other books to read, most of them published by Hodder & Stoughton, and I didn't want to hoard. But curiosity eventually gave me the final push. I just wanted to read this book now and not when my physical copy would eventually be delivered. I'm really glad that my request was granted.

The moment I realized that this book was quite heavily inspired by the Secret Garden the smile on my face grew broader and broader. I love that book. I love that story. I love that dysfunctional family. And finding all those elements back in this book felt like coming home. A father mourning his wife, an ill child fighting for her life, a Secret Garden, haunting ghosts who are not ready to let go and an orphaned girl changing it all. It felt like coming home.

And then Grace added some delicious elements of her own. In this book the mother died of murder and therefore a few whodunnit and detective elements were added. Although the search was slow and maybe not even the most prominent part of the story, I liked how it helped to give a sense of danger and urgency. Then there also was the excitement of balls and husbands and estates, all the elements of this era we love to read about, and are relieved to not have to do ourselves.

And last but not least: we had the romance and the characters. Our heroine is going through quite a heavy time before and even during this book, but she's also learning and growing more into her own person with every page turned. She doesn't have to do that on her own, though. It's nice to see her have friends, it's also nice to see her follow her heart and build a connection with the most unlikely lover one can imagine.

I'm really really excited that there is gonna be more and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wasn’t sure going into this one but it was a surprise hit for me!

I really enjoyed Signa (the MC) and her relationship with Death. There is quite a lot left to explore and questions unanswered so I’m really happy this is a duology.

I’m normally pretty good at twists but I didn’t get this one into quite late in the game-if you enjoyed the twist in the Prison Healer then I think you will like this one.

I thought having this set in a Victorian-esque age but not in our world was a good choice, it allows us to suspend belief for some aspects but also has some familiarity that makes the story easy to follow.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Signa Farrow has always known death. Orphaned as a new born, she has been passed from one family member to another in her nineteen years, and her guardians have often died. But, considering most of them only cared about the wealth she could bring them, it wasn't much of a loss. Signa is comfortable in the company of Death, and has worked out how to reach Death, and communicate with him with the help of Belladonna berries. Now with her latest family members, she discovers not all is as it seems. Her guardian is mourning the death of his wife from a mysterious wasting disease, one which his daughter, Blythe, seems to be suffering from as well. He ignores his son, Percy, and his business is about to collapse. Soon, Signa realises that the spirit of Lillian is trying to find her, and that her death may have been murder - and someone wants to kill Blythe too. Working with Death to solve the mystery, the sparks fly, and Signa is risking losing not just her heart, but her life too.

When I started this book, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was hooked, however, from the first chapter. Belladonna is full of poetic prose and lyrical speech, with a plot line which grips your attention, and doesn't want to let you go. Signa was a character who was strong, but extremely vulnerable too. She'd never had anyone who really cared about her, and as a rich, orphaned heiress, she was surrounded by people who wanted her money, not her attention. She found a good family in the Hawthorne's, though the secrets that were hiding just below the surface were doomed to come out. Yes, some chapters were a little boring, with the side plot of Signa preparing herself for society, and marriage, whereas when the mystery and murder plot line took hold, I could barely put the book down. There's a hint of a love triangle, but it's obvious what's really happening, so I wasn't too fussed by it. I also guessed a little at the true culprit, but there were a number of twists and turns along the way that blew me away. I'm loving the world building, and am glad this was not the standalone I was expecting. Bring on Foxglove!

Belladonna opens with a scene of mass murder by poison, but whilst you'd expect such a thing to be gruesome, somehow it was delicate- so beautiful is Grace's description. The contrast in baby Signa's calm reaction to the visage of death all around her immediately sets her apart, giving her an untouchable quality.

I chose this title from Netgalley having previously enjoyed the fantasy adventure; All The Stars And Teeth, you can find my review HERE.
This time Grace leans into the horror genre with main character Signa's ability to walk between life and death, communing with angry spirits and taunting the Reaper himself.

Belladonna is told from third person perspective, past tense with Signa being the only focus- Perhaps owing to this I found the pacing a slow at times.
There was much repetition of how Signa perceived herself and others, evaluating every choice she made and whether they were correct for someone of her societal stature. I thought this tedious though not quite as much as Signa getting flustered by every single man she interacts with. It's likely this is just personal preference as I'm never a big fan of romance subplots.

What held my interest were the mysteries of Thorn Grove, Grace managed to endear me to almost all of the characters in Belladonna and certainly invest in their fates. There are red herrings aplenty in this story and enough hints to niggle the back of your mind whilst navigating a plot which at its core tells of a girl born into the clutches of Death.

The pacing ramps up as expected toward the end of the novel and the few irritants I had became easy to overlook.
I would recommend this YA fantasy and I'll definitely pick up the sequel 'Foxglove' to see what Signa Farrow does next.

I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! The prose is beautiful and the characters are so wonderfully created. A truly brilliant read! I absolutely was not expecting that ending and I desperately need the sequel NOW!

From the first chapter I knew I was going to love this book. I love the style of writing, the characters, the story just everything about it! Especially how beautiful the cover is (which is what initially caught my attention!) It has murder mystery, ghosts, the underworld, and even a hint of Bridgerton. I found this to be a real page turner, the twists and turns made me not want to put it down. This book kept me guessing and trying to piece it all together the whole way through. I found myself really torn between Death and Sylas and wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen. I just feel that everything about this book is so well done. I was over the moon when I finished the book and realised it’s been left open for a sequel! Can’t wait for the next one!!

A delicious mystery with many twists and turns that kept me captivated the whole way through.

Belladonna is the sort of book that keeps you on your toes, and gives you enough from the first page to keep you completely invested. I loved the mystery in the book and I didn't see the final twist coming at all (although I may have been able to predict a couple of the plot twists in there!)

I loved Signa Farrow as a protagonist. Signa is the sort of girl who has been through so much that it makes her such a strong character. Her relationships with everyone in the book were honestly a treat to explore - especially her relationship with Death. I loved how you could really tell how her isolation has effected her, and it leaves room for some hilariously awkward interations, as well as cementing a drive in Signa that I really liked.

Overall, this was a really interesting book and I can't wait to continue with this series in the future.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Having been interested in necromancers ever since I first came across them in the Diablo games, this book intrigued me for its casting of a young, affluent girl in this haunting role contrary to the popular image of someone who had control over death. Adalyn’s writing is graceful throughout and the references to nature was sweet, adding much nuance to this otherwise grim topic. The nods to the chrysanthemum, a flower deeply associated with death in most East Asian cultures, and oolong was a nice nod as well to the interconnectedness of our world even through the Victorian era. Overall, this is a fun read that is likely to be immensely popular given how big dark academia is and the whole enemies to lovers trope is.

Premise was great but the execution was disappointing. I loved the gothic vibes but the story and romance was lacklustre and something I didn’t care about. I really enjoyed this authors other books though.

Belladonna was a fun read, if not particular original or groundbreaking. It was well written and imaginative, but ultimately a cookie-cutter YA romance with a predictable plot and a "chosen one" narrative.

Signa Farrow was an interesting protagonist, and I found the premise intriguing. The pacing was good, with a decent gothic mystery to push the plot along. Despite nothing coming as a surprise, and each potential twist, including the cliffhanger being not so much foreshadowed, as floodlit with a big neon sign, it was still an immensely enjoyable reading experience.

Where my enjoyment fell a little flat was in the characterisation of a lot of the secondary characters, and the motivations of the antagonist. There were some pretty big leaps that led to the ultimate reveal that really broke my immersion, and there were a host of characters who were not really developed, and used more as props. I've also got a pretty huge issue with the YA obsessions with ancient beings falling in love with young girls. It's just weird, and kind of gross.

Still, I enjoyed reading Belladonna and will definitely read the next book when it comes out. I'm already predicting a love triangle to finish up my YA romance trope bingo card.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for granting me an ARC.

I enjoyed this a lot! Initially I thought I wasn't going to, because the start of the book is a bit rough and kind of... abrupt? After a prologue where we learn about Signa, our main character's origins, it launches straight into Signa trying to stab Death (unsuccessfully), learning that she can kill people by touching them after she kills her aunt, and then being sent to her relative's house. It's just kind of a lot?

I'm happy to say that after the beginning the pacing becomes more normal and I got pretty absorbed, especially when the murder mystery really starts. I also really liked the romance.

I did have some issues with the writing style, and some of the dialogue wasn't so good - the "banter" between Signa and Death felt forced sometimes. On the plus side the author stuck to a period appropriate style of speech (at least to my ear - I'm not an expert), unlike so many books with historical settings where characters talk exactly like modern people.

The plot gets wrapped up nicely, but there is a sequel hook at the very end (not a cliffhanger though).

If you like the sound of a gothic murder mystery and a romance with Death himself, give this one a try. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this ARC. This was fantastic - I loved the authors first duologu and this was even better. A lush, atmospheric setting with a unique love story and a mystery throughout. I cannot wait for the sequel! Also the UK cover is absolutely stunning.

This is an intreguing story about a woman who is cheating death. Signa becomes more and more likeable as you read more of the book and theres enough distrust in the characters around her to make you question everything.

belladonna takes us to a gothic-infused paranormal fantasy where we follow signa’s journey in the hawthornes’ thorn grove estate as Death constantly looms nearby. it was unique and genuinely one of the books that has the most stunning prose & writing i’ve ever laid my eyes on. the pace that was extremely slow (or at least for me) and my unfamiliarity with the genre were the only reasons i had to put it down for at least a month. the writing is hard to follow at first but you’ll find it more beautiful and engaging every time you opened a page.

the mystery is (as it turns out) not as boring as i had imagined it to be. there’ll be at least one person dying in every chapter (/j) and that’s where the thrill lies! some characters are truly loveable and i enjoy watching their relationship begin to grow as they work to rebuild everything from scratch. i keep suspecting everyone and was fortunately wrong in each one so yeah it was a fun read! it also has plenty of masquerade ball scenes so if you’re into it then, have a feast! the progression of the story was also really good and landed on an ending i was definitely satisfied with; there aren’t any large unresolved questions, but there’s enough crumbs to make you curious for more. like, the epilogue? cannot wait for foxglove!

arc kindly provided by hodder & stoughton via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

honestly such a quick and easy read. the world building and the characters were also on-point and i was hooked from the prologue. this entire book is just *chefs kiss* on delivery and execution!

Signa is a wealthy orphan shunted from guardian to guardian after each succumbs to an untimely demise. Is she cursed, or is Death just trying to make her life as miserable as possible? It doesn't help that she doesn't seem capable of dying herself, and sees Death whenever she has a near-death experience. When Signa goes to Thorn Grove, she finds a family she wants to stay with - and she'll do anything to keep them safe.

But with a mysterious poisoner on the loose and Death following her every move, keeping her relatives alive could come at a deadly cost.

A mystery romance novel with Death as a major character? Belladonna is superb! It has creepy, gothic vibes, brilliant characters, vengeful ghosts and lots of poisons. I cannot wait for book two!