DID NOT FINISH. Read 30% before stopping.
The main character came across as whiny and unlikeable. The plot felt a bit predictable, but none of the characters or story were likeable or engaging enough to continue. The writing style was good, and I have no complaints with how it was written. But when you can't connect with the story or characters, it makes it dull to read.

When I read that it was a kind of murder mystery story, this was definitely not what I was expecting, but I wasn't disappointed either! I loved the atmosphere from the first page and chapter (which was crazy, not going to lie), and I can't wait for more!

A story that is to die for! (bad book pun?)

I literally just finished this one yesterday and boy was it worth it!!!
I am absolutely drawn into this story world with it's dark romance, supernatural atmosphere and thrilling storyline.
A little bit of whodunnit, and a lot of coming to age. Picture Enola Holmes meets House of Hollows and you will totally understand why everyone, and yes I mean everyone is raving about this story!

With book 2 out soon, I can definitely recommend heading to the store and getting yourself a copy as this one is not to be missed.

Adalynn Grace is a powerhouse writer with a brilliant voice. Her characters, although historical, feel relatable and charming. I honestly could not put this one down.

🫐🫐🫐🫐
(if you know you know)

3 1/5*

This is a great gothic YA fantasy. A hauntingly romantic 'who-dunnit' that hits all the marks atmospherically and is lush with dynamic characters. However it is by no means perfect, and relies on overused metaphors one too many times. The writing at times feels a bit lazy and the phrase "puzzle pieces began piecing together" started to lose all meaning, as it seemed to be the only way the author could explain any characters' understanding of the matter at hand. This being said, it was an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes.

I would be interested in reading what Adalyn Grace writes next.

This was so much fun! I absolutely loved it, it was gothic, romanthic, fun and honestly just a great read! Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the sequel!

Adalyn Grace wrote a compelling, intriguing and enchanting story with a incredible main character, amazing worldbuilding and a plot that keeps the reader on his/her/their toes. I loved absolutely everything.

A gothic vibe, an addictive murder mystery and romance - a combination that can only be a 5 star read for me!

While overall well written I would love to add the characters were incredibly well developed and intriguing (something that can often be overlooked when reading a book such as this).

I devoured this book in a single sitting.

Adalyn just gets better and better with each book - I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

5 stars - I need more 😍!

A well paced plot with fully formed characters, it merges the two raging tropes of forbidden romance and enemies to lovers and make use of the gothic elements to captivate its readers. Amazing book!

A beautiful, stunning book! From the mystery to the romance, it delivers excellence and stirs your emotions with the family dynamics. It brings together two perfect tropes of enemies to lovers and forbidden romance, and doesn't miss the emphasis on an atmospheric world, gothic intrigue, and historical backdrop. A perfect read.

This book did not disappoint!

I loved everything about it, the characters are beautifully written! Each one had there own personalities and are so enjoyable to read. The story was so different to what I am used to but i was instantly hooked.

Thank you Hodder for my earc of this book!
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are brilliant, the writing engaging and atmospheric with a historical and gothic feel without being slow or overbearing.
The plot itself is brilliant and well-paced and I loved Death as a character and the family dynamics.
I can’t wait to read Foxglove!

“I have waited for you for millennia, Signa Farrow” … “Since the dawn of this earth, I have waited. You are mine and I am yours. And together, this world is ours. “

Outstanding!!! Easy 5 star read, I absolutely devoured this book. The ending has left me desperate for book 2

Signa was the perfect FMC, I adored Death and Sylas and now I can’t wait to read about Fate!!!

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden love
Murder mystery

Love love love ❤️

3.5/5 ***

Nice book, However in my opinion just an average YA with cardboard characters.
What I liked about this book is mystery that is surrounding main character.
In the way it reminded me "Vespertine", similar atmosphere and MC were rather similar.
I liked that for a change book was about something dark rather than cotton candy sweet.

From the moment I started this book I was intrigued. The idea of Death as a character really interests me as well as poisons and botany, so from the first few pages I was excited for this story to unfold.

The beginning completely drew me in, Signa’s character and her abilities were very interesting. Unfortunately the middle of the book I found was lacking and at times abit boring, the times I looked forward to were the ones where Death visits and even them scenes I found not as exciting as I hoped. The chemistry between Death and Signa was missing something and I was disappointed to not feel the intimacy and spark between them. It wasn’t bad but I just wanted more!

The ending however made me give this book 4 stars! Twists I never saw coming, a chapter between Death and Signa where I finally felt some connection between them which I loved and a finale that makes you want to read the next book and figure out the next mystery.

Overall it was a book I enjoyed, even if the middle was a little lack lustre, and I will be reading the next book Foxglove when it comes out.

I really wanted to love this, and the plot did definitely pick up towards the end, but ultimately it just didn't do it for me.

The mystery of the identity of the poisoner was compelling, and I enjoyed some of the discussions about the fragility of life, particularly between Signa and Elijah, but ultimately I have too many issues with her explicitly having sex with death himself... (particularly given he is supposedly an adult, and has been there in all her formative moments since she was a baby).
I wasn't expecting it, especially as the book is marked as YA.

Other than that, I also found it hard to believe that Signa would feel so strongly about saving Blythe given the lack of time spent building a connection between them.

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed and wish I'd enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022, and it delivered! I loved the concept right from the first time I saw the author's TikToks and just about squealed when I saw a physical copy in stores, in South Africa. I immediately added it to my shelf because this is one I just couldn't not have! I loved the pacing and characters - it was a beautifully written story and one that I'll definitely revisit. A special shout out to the beautiful cover design for both the paperback and hardback - stunning! I can't wait to read more from this author.

Belladonna is fantasy romance at its very finest!! This was one of my favourite reads of the year!! 😍 I can simply do nothing but sing it's praises

You'll be hooked from the very beginning ( no seriously... I was obsessed right at the prologue!)

A captivating story filled with an epic gothic mystery romance - Belladonna is an absolute must read!!

I really loved this book! I've read from this author before so I knew I would like the writing style but I loved the story too.

I'm a sucker for anything to do with death so a book where the main character can see the dead? Sign me up!

I connected to the main character almost instantly and was immediately invested in her story and found the whole mystery aspect of the story to be very compelling.

I did a mixture of physically reading and audiobooking it for this one and loved both. I even picked up a physical copy for my collection because I think that this is one that I will want to re-read.

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

Belladonna was one of my anticipated reads for 2022 and I'm so excited that it didn't disappoint. Lately, I've been enchanted by books where poison plays a role (This Poison Heart and This Wicked Fate). Belladonna is the first book in a duology and this atmospheric read will have you falling head over heels when Death calls Signa 'Little Bird'.

Signa is orphaned as a baby, but her family's deaths are explained as a family member's restless spirit contacts Signa. I'm trying to keep this review spoiler-free, but this gothic fantasy has Death as a love interest. Belladonna is known for its poisonous attributes but Signa is immune to its effects. An illness plaguing Signa's cousin has her wondering when Death will knock on her door, but it seems something more sinister is happening. Death himself is Signa's own poison, a desire and strange connection grow between them. I was quite taken by Death's appearance and his influence on Signa.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟."

This book is definitely giving Wednesday Addams vibes. The descriptions are vivid and detailed and the reader feels like they are part of the story. This is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist and a taste of poison. Once death has touched your lips, the intoxicating shadows will envelop you and when the fog clears, you'll find yourself at the last chapter, wanting more! I am excited about the next book, Foxglove, and I'm curious about the new possible roles Grace has planned. Belladonna is perfect for fans of House of Hollow, This Poison Heart and Mexican Gothic.

"𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted electronic copy in exchange for an honest.

I had high hopes going into this book and I wasn't disappointed. Who doesn't want to read about Death becoming super-hot and falling in love with the female character. OK let's start with saying this book doesn't just focus on this but I thought that it would grab your attention if you were reading my review.

Belladonna is about young Signa Farrow; she hasn't had an easy life. Born into money tragedy soon befalls her when her mother dies, and she is left to go from family to family until she is of age and inherits her money. The problem is the caregivers that she is sent to aren't kind and they all have ulterior motives. The good thing is they are end up dead. Ok that didn't sound right writing it but it's true they all end up meeting their end and Death. Signa herself is gifted, she can see and feel Death. She has a little help with Belladonna (hence the name) and she goes on a journey to learn the powers she is told by Death himself shows her how to use.

Signa before she turns 18 is sent to stay with her distant family the Hawthorns. They have suffered tragedy themselves by the loss of Elijah Hawthorns late wife, his daughter Blythe is unwell, and he is walking around the home morose and not thinking about anyone else. Problem is Blythe seems to be going the way her mother did and it's up to Signa to investigate and see what is causing her to be unwell. Is it someone trying to harm the family?

This was honestly such a good read, slightly dark in places and with a dash of mystery where we follow Signa trying to solve the mystery of why her late aunt died and what is happening to her cousin Blythe. She is being helped by Death himself as well as Sylus one of the stable hands. The more Signa investigates the more she uncovers. She finds her feet with her new powers and is able to do more and falls more and more in the thrall of Death. Things come to head when her other cousin Percy falls ill like his sister, and this is where the story ramps up even more.

I don't want to spoil the book, but it definitely keeps you enthralled with what is happening. There are undercurrents between Signa and Death. She doesn't know what is happening to herself what with her growing powers and her attraction to Death. I honestly did enjoy this book; Adalyn Grace has really written this well and even though it did take me a bit of time to read I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I am also excited for book two to see how Signa grows with her powers and what happens with Death.