This is so beautifully written and full of intrigue, romance, and gothic tones!

Signa, the main character, was a stand-out! She is gifted with the ability to see spirits and Death (which is an actual character). Signa is bold and has an incredible sharp wit and lovable nature to her, practically coming to life before your eyes as you read through her POV. She is as layered as the plot. I loved the expert plot twists the author intertwined with the story, the unfolding of the mysteries well-paced and composed. It is dark and compelling.

I wish there were more books like this! I have been searching for a read like this; a Gothic mystery that's historical fiction, and Adalyn Grace has written something that is so satiable and ticks every box. I am super delighted to know that there is a sequel to come! Exquisite, macabre, and tender.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Usually when I ship a character with death it's cause I want them gone. In this case, I was shipping a character with death and was rooting for her to get the love and admiration she deserved and honestly I've not shipped this hard in a while!
I loved how the book was made up of a bunch of different plot points that all intersected really well; a mystery, a romance, a girl trying to figure out how she fits in society as well as juggling her fledgling powers. All of that against the backdrop of a historical, high society, setting.
This kept me guessing, kept me intrigued. It took me a month to read because it's been a busy few weeks but it goes to note that I kept coming back to this book. I did correctly guess one plot point and I was so thrilled with myself. Honestly gasped.
It's lowkey giving Kingdom of the Wicked vibes but ... dare I say, better?? I am so excited for the sequel now!

This book was simply breathtaking. Belladonna is a mix of everything, fantasy, romance, Gothic, murder mystery. It's been such a long time since I've read a Gothic romance but Belladonna was such a breath of fresh air. Set in the 1850's/60's it follows the story of Signa Farrow, an orphaned girl that is passed from relative to relative all out to claim a part of her inheritance. But wherever Signa goes, death seems to follow (literally). Signa has the uncanny ability to see spirits and Death himself. When her aunt dies, Signa is summoned to Thorn Grove where she has the opportunity to utilize her strange abilities to help the people around her.

As a title character Signa was wonderful. You really feel the story through her voice. She is a brave and impulsively smart protagonist but at the center of her being is the longing for family, love and identity. The voice of her character fit the overall tone of the story and made it all the more compelling.

The genre of Gothic-fantasy is a difficult one but Adalyn Grace does a spectacular job of incorporating a little bit of everything. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what's next.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review will be posted to my Goodreads now and to my Instagram (krisreadstt) a month before publication.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of Belladonna

I absolutely loved this novel, I was highly anticipating it once it was announced and boy was I not disappointed.

I loved the prologue of this novel, it was different and dark and I loved where that little intro was going.
The characters were all built up in a fantastic way and I actually loved the portrayal of Death.
His and Signa's relationship fascinatined me and I loved how the story developed for her.
The world building is at its finest and the ending! Talk about a cliffhanger!
I can't wait for book two, however we have to wait another year for it.
I highly recommend this novel.. In fact I have it on preorder TWICE!

This will be the caption on my Instagram post for “Belladonna” by Helen Adalyn Grace. The primary image for this post will be of the book itself. It will be published no sooner than one month before release unless otherwise suggested.
Nineteen year old Signa is the heir to a substantial fortune. Orphaned as an infant, after one of her parent’s parties took a horrific turn, she feels haunted; that death is her constant companion, always just on her heels, leaving a string of dead guardians (and quite often their spirits) in her wake. Her life has been deeply lonely, often with only the dead for company. On the death of her latest guardian, her malicious aunt, she finds herself transported to Thorn Grove, the home of her nearest relatives, the Hawthorne family. Once there she soon finds that all is not what it seems, from her aunts passing to her cousin’s mysterious illness. If Signa wants to find the answer to save her cousins life she will have to work closely with the one she holds accountable for all her misfortune, Death themselves.
Deeply immersive, deliciously dark and sumptuously gothic, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It combines fast-paced story telling with a cleverly done slow burn romance that leaves the reader looking for more. There is clever juxtaposition between the poverty of the world that Signa comes from (despite being an heiress) to the opulence of the world that she finds at Thorn Grove. Thorn Grove is a world of excess, where her uncle throws more and more outrageous parties so as to avoid his own grief, her cousin Blythe falls more ill at every turn and Percy, the would be heir to it all, struggles to claim his place in this world, particularly in light of his father’s opposition. It captures very well the work that people are willing to do in order to belong or to claim what they see as rightfully theirs.
My thanks to @netgalley and @hodderbooks for this E-ARC. I very much enjoyed it.
This section will appear as a slide on my Instagram post. (First image will be of the book, 2nd slide image will be what is contained below).
“Belladonna” By Adalyn Grace
Read it if you like:
• YA with a strong gothic twist. Fans of “Mexican Gothic” and “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue” may enjoy this one.
• Books that understand that a lot of the time people think they are looking to be accepted in the world when in fact they are looking to learn how to accept themselves.
• Books with solid slow burn romance, with a solid dash of will they/won’t they, and an element that you might not necessarily see coming.
• You’ve had a moment where you want to wear a blood red dress and quite literally dance with death….16 yr old me would have been very into this.
• Solid plot twisting and cleverly done story-telling.

Really interesting and rare concept, strong contemptible heroine and dark interesting male lead. Really enjoyed and left me desperate for the next one

Gosh this book was phenomenal! There genuinely isn't a single thing I didn't love. I loved Signa, I loved Death, I loved Sylas, Elijah, Blythe, Percy, I loved the lot of them. I wish i could read this book for the first time again. Bravo.

TW: self-harm, gore, blood, description of illnesses, poisoning, parental neglect, past suicide attempts

I was so pleasantly surprised by this.

Belladonna is a gothic mystery that follows Signa Farrow, a girl who cannot die no matter how she tries. Orphaned as a baby, she has been sent from home to home as each of her guardians die.

Her remaining relatives, the Hawthornes, are her last chance at entering society and securing a good reputation, as she has been plagued by Death. Metaphorically and physically...

She knows Death exists and has seen him as she grew. However, people believe her to be an ill omen as the people around her have died. At her new home, she discovers her cousin is terminally ill and she will do everything she can to prevent her death.

Belladonna is the perfect book for fans of Allison Saft, and those who have been eager for more gothic inspired novels. From the mystery surrounding the Hawthornes, even Signa's existence, to the romantic elements, and Death itself, it's a gripping narrative that will immerse you in its world.

I think it's a decent, intriguing book. It's predictable to an extent and sometimes leans into more generic narrative devices, but it is no doubt well-written. The characters were good, but over time I feel like I will forget them. They are simply not memorable enough nor are they very unique as characters. The atmosphere was good and the writing was better than the author's previous works.

Wow. This is my first Adalyn Grace book, I've yet to read All The Stars and Teeth (though I've been meaning to for so long!!)

This book was incredible. A mix of fantasy, murder mystery contemporary, it was amazing. I love the world and Signa and Deaths relationship! The plot was so well done and my gosh, that e n d i n g!!!!

I hope there's a book two? I need a book two.. The book was well rounded and the main plots were filled but the last chapter?! Don't leave me hanging for that one!

Highly recommended!

This book made me so excited! I have not felt this giddy about a book for a while.

Right from the prologue I was bewitched by this amazing story.

This book made me forget everything around me existed, I gave up sleep because I needed to finish the book to find out what happened! (I have 5 kids so usually need as much sleep as possible 🤣)

The story was so we written, I loved that it was set in victorian times, one of my favourite era's to read about. This book had mystery, friendship, coming of age, finding one's self, love and so much more!

The book follows Signa who was orphaned as a baby, she is passed from guardian to guardian as she grows. The story really begins when she is placed with the Hawthorns, a distant relative of her late mother.

Not is all as it seems at the Hawthorns home, Thorn Grove, but then Signa is not all she seems either. With the help of the Stable boy Signa gets to work at putting all the puzzle pieces together to solve the mystery!

This book will 100% be going down as a 2022 top 5 book ❤️

AHHHHHHHHHHH oh my GOSH I loved this. I just finished it and I'm still sitting here giggling like a schoolgirl. Hello??? Spooky murder mystery with steamy magic romance and kickass female characters? I read this all in a few hours. I am also immensely relieved to know there will be a sequel because I am NOT satiated. This was so good!! I'm in love!! 
First of all, the characters. Signa is amazing. I love her. She starts off a little confused and trying to find her place in the world, as we all do. She matures and learns throughout the book and she develops into a wonderful woman. She's smart, witty, and bold. It's so easy for protagonists like her to be obnoxious and overly naive, but Grace doesn't have that problem with her main character. Signa is able to realize that what society wants from her may not be what she truly wants and she can acknowledge this through the help of the people around her. She also doesn't have a lot of dithering about mortality and morality which I like.  Blythe is also fantastic. She already knows how she wants her life to go and she's not shy about declaring it. I love her.
Death is.... well. He is something else entirely. Usually with stories like this I get an ick from characters like Death. Age-old being who's known the girl since she was a baby? That's gross. But Death isn't! He's written in such a unique way so he's not creepy or even excessively mature. And even though he's known Signa since she was a baby, he still keeps his distance so it's not a weird grooming situation. I am such a picky reader when it comes to dynamics like this and I was ready to be grossed out by it but I am so glad that was not the case. He's such a perfect YA fantasy boy and I'm glad he exists. I want him for myself. 
The cover? Beautiful! It's muted tones and elegant illustration give the impression of mature gothic, which fits the vibe. Obviously the belladonna berries go along with the title and story, but the bird (yellow bellied warbler?) was harder to understand until I actually read the book. It's such an aesthetic image on its own but it also does a wonderful job of hinting at the story inside without revealing too much.
The plot: magnificent. Several times I thought "Oh, I know where this is going. I can see this twist coming." I was wrong. There were a couple of things I halfway figured out, so my ego was still boosted, but I was still deliciously surprised by the way the story unfolded. There were so many clues but I still wasn't able to fit all the pieces together, like a true crime story. 
Belladonna meshes together horror, fantasy, romance, murder mysteries, historical drama, and YA storytelling in one book that truly delivers everything it promises. If you like Bridgerton, Agatha Christie, soft paranormal, and confident female leads, you'll probably like Belladonna. I cannot wait for the next book, Foxglove and I'm hoping there will be more to come after that too. I read this as a free digital ARC from netgalley, but I loved it so much I may need to buy a physical copy for my shelf. Plus again, the beautiful cover makes me want a physical copy too.

I’ve been a huge fan of Adalyn Grace ever since I read All the Stars and Teeth in 2020 and when I saw the cover reveal for Belladonna and how Adalyn Grace herself described the book to be “as much a dark and lush romance with Death as it is a ruthless murder mystery that involves spirits, autumnal gardens, and an eerie Victorian manor that’s home to the eccentric Hawthorne family”, I knew I had to read this book.

Just like All the Stars and Teeth, Belladonna is a captivating and fast-paced YA/NA fantasy book with beautiful descriptions and intriguing characters. Throw some mysteries, dark secret and slowburn romance into the mix and there you have it.

I’ve already heard that there’s a upcoming sequel which is really great since I like both the characters and the overall idea of Belladonna way too much for it to be a standalone. But while I anxiously wait for the sequel, I’m so eager to hear everyones opinions and follow the discussions about Belladonna.

— As of now, Belladonna is expected to be published on August 23 this year! —

*** Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! ***

I want to keep it simple and say that I adored this book. There's not a single detail in this book that felt unnecessary, not a single moment of uneventfulness or boredom. It's hard to properly appreciate the book without revealing vital plot points but I'll try my best.

The book opens with a Gothic, somewhat spooky (but not to be confused with horror) mood and sustains the atmosphere throughout while adding sprinkles of romance, gloom and mystery at appropriate places. With a murder mystery at its core and a protagonist who can communicate with the Reaper (Death) himself, the story has all the ingredients of deliciousness. I was particularly impressed with the suspense as it kept me guessing till the end (I mean a lot of crime thrillers are quite predictable these days). But this one wasn't, so that's already a winner for me. If that isn't enough though, the characters Sylas and Death were mysteries in themselves. I was in love with both of them and thank God, I wasn't the one who had to do the choosing. XD All this with a touch of Victorianism and we have a very promising read which also actually delivers.

It's quite the page turner and I'm most definitely looking forward to the sequel!

I didn’t realise I needed a gothic fantasy death romance in my life until this.

I loved how the plot intrigue starts early so I was super hooked but I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE CLIFFHANGER DAMN IT.

Signa and Death have such good chemistry, I loved their banter but they also had such adorable moments together.

The romance- immaculate
The plot- exquisite
The characters- sublime
The mystery- phenomenal

Adalyn Grace has some of the best descriptions I’ve ever read and I will forever read everything and anything she writes because I adore it every time.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Despite the promise of a murder mystery and a romance with Death, I'm sad to say that this book left me indifferent.

I had two major issues with this book, the first being the romance with Death. It was a disservice to have the relationship between Death and Signa already established. She hates him, he likes her. They "know" each other and they are cooperating when Signa is in danger. There was no build-up thus I couldn't feel the spark or the tension of a first encounter. Also, their romance was on a physical level and not an emotional one. At least, it didn't feel like they shared deep feelings... On the contrary, Signa's attraction to Sylas was way more compelling: with the right amount of sexual and antagonistic tension. Unfortunately for me, Death's scenes were more prominent than those with Sylas.

The other problem was the plot. The difficulty with manor mysteries is that you won't have a lot of people and thus only a few potential culprits can be considered. Especially when some suspects appear sporadically, it's hard to take them as serious threats. Because of that, the reveal didn't surprise me (the details were nicely plotted though. I wasn't expecting this). All this made the pacing slow. I wasn't sold on Signa being the only person to investigate the mysterious disease however. The family has a library and doesn't do research, and the doctors are oblivious to the existence of poisons apparently... I wasn't convinced.

Sometimes I liked Signa. Sometimes she frustrated me. She was petty when she didn't want to learn more about her powers just because she hated Death... Speaking of that, her hating him for collecting dead people's souls was childish. He's Death.

On the positive side, I liked that the author included ghosts in the story. The ending - or rather the cliffhanger - was delicious. It's a pity I'm not sold on the characters and the romance because it made me want to read the sequel.

A wonderful murder mystery with gothic elements, I always enjoy stories with Death as a character and this did not let me down. Signa Farrow as a character was compelling, the plot was a delight and this gave me Jane Eyre vibes for most of the time. Do give it a try!.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc. ❤️

It is one of my most anticipated release of 2022, and I'm always nervous when I dig in with expectations because it sometimes turns out to be disappointing. This time it was better than expected! Twisty, dark, quirky and sexy too!
I really enjoyed it: the writing, the dialogues, it was such an easy read!
Who doesn't love a good banter and a dark love interest? The guy's protective and teasing, loved him!
I enjoyed the murder mystery and all the original elements: the ghosts, Death, the glimpse behind the veil and the poisons too!
Towards the end, there's this one thing that I liked less (didn't affect my enjoyment of the book but made it less perfect to me) and also some aspects of the resolution are a bit overlooked, or too easy(...that the mystery reader in me talking). Still, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the sequel.
That's the kind of books that you can read as a standalone, no cliffhanger or anything but just a possibility for more (a bit like the Stalking Jack the ripper series).
100% recommend!

What a dark and wonderful treat Belladonna turned out to be, I was captivated through this read and connected deeply with the main character.
Thank you for providing me with an early addition, I was extremely happy reading this!
If your looking for a fantasy meets mystery with a toe curling plot and gothic vibes look no further!