I was somewhat disappointed by this beautiful book. It had a lot of potential after that incredible opening, but it quickly became predictable and, sadly, quite a basic YA story.

There were a lot of filler moments that took away from the story and made it hard to keep reading because they ruined the suspense of the more interesting moments. The ending was a failed attempt at a cliffhanger which was yet another disappointment. I can see why other people might love this book, but it was not for me.

WHAT A SPECTACULAR READ!
From the very beginning, I found myself hooked by Signa's story and wanted to see her flourish, while fearing for her wellbeing at every stage. Grace does such a fantastic job of giving you a protagonist tearing at the seams due to her loneliness and longing, a protagonist struggling with powers she has that she has been shunned her whole life for, a protagonist you can't help but want to see grow to accept herself and see others do the same until every bit of that loneliness if gone from her life. Except she has always lived with Death by her side - and what a twisty, intoxicating relationship these two have.
This novel is a triumphant addition to the modern gothic, so eerie in its atmosphere, and so vivid it imagery (once, it even got me to physically recoil, which is the heighest form of flattery I can offfer!). The mystery plot also had me guessing at every stage, and each reveal we stumbled upon felt bittersweet. By the end, I was undeniably sold on dying to read anything else in this world that Grace may want to release.

*Gothic? Yes please!
*Murder mystery? Yes!
*Death and the maiden? Yes!
*Supernatural romance? Yes!
*<spoiler>Extremely old character watching young girl as she grows up, intervening in her life without her consent, then becoming her mentor right at the point where she 'comes of age (reaches the age of consent and is starting on her romantic journey, trying to decide which boys she likes)> and also being in her life in disguise so he can be her friend without her knowing it's him</spoiler>' erm no thank you, that gave me the ick - <spoiler>not the romance, but the 'I've always been here, watching you from when you were a baby' bit. </spoiler>
*Reading a standalone, only to find there's more to come based on the last sentence? Hmm, meh

This was so close to being a four-star read, I loved the atmosphere, the premise, and I did enjoy the experience of reading this, (until we got to the ending), but it kept veering off into less enjoyable aspects or scenes for me.

The main character reads very young, which made the majority of the book feel more middle grade to me, except that, rather than friendships, Signa was after romance, and every male character she met seemed to be considered as a potential partner. There was a lot of:
'maybe I should like him?'
'Do I like him?'
'I think he might be right for me'
'I like him, but I don't want to',
which again, made her seem very young, younger than most YA characters I've read recently, except that there was also a steamy scene, which, while I liked the scene itself, did still feel like it happened in an otherwise middle grade book, and didn't really have a relationship build other than just desire, which again, I like in general, but not when it's surrounded by sections where the main character is still, in a very child-like way, figuring out what romance, relationships, or attraction even is. It seemed like an abrupt way to include the enemies-to-lovers trope.

The approach to the mystery feltmiddle grade too, sometimes Signa was running around desperate to solve it, but then, when someone's life was hanging in the balance, she stopped to have some tea, because she needed to fit into society, that was a long and unnecessary scene! It would have been quite socially acceptable to say:
'my poor cousin has worsened today, I'm afraid I must decline on this occasion'
but no, let's all have afternoon tea and hope murder doesn't happen while I'm having my scone, I'd feel dreadful about it!

The mystery wasn't really a mystery, the culprit was pretty predictable and the reasoning wasn't the best, and had been hinted at pretty heavily throughout the book, but I didn't really mind that so much. The climactic scene with them though, what was that?
<spoiler> Signa, in becoming who she was meant to be, and accepting her power etc. didn't do very much, she like set a demon dog on him and killed him?! It was a pretty harsh sort of justice, and she didn't really demonstrate any power, and the author didn't really do any world-building in the sense of giving us the rules or purpose of her power, what can she actually do? Why? When? Who is she compared to Death? Is she another Death? She-Death? I didn't really understand what was going on there, other than just 'Empowerment!'</spoiler> It could have been a really powerful scene, if there'd been more explanation of what it meant, and what Signa was accepting, life just goes back to normal after that, she just continues to live with her cousin and go to balls.

I don't really think this is a spoiler but I'll wrap it in tags anyway for those who don't want to see the last line...

The last line is:
<spoiler>
"It would appear that you have another murder to solve"
</spoiler

That's the only reason we know there's going to be a sequel, there was no build up to it in this book, just that line (and the event that immediately led to that line being spoken), there's not a real issue with that, it could be a series, the 'Signa Farrow Mysteries' or something, but again, that reads as Middle Grade to me, and wasn't a cliff-hanger as such, so I don't have the urgency to read the next one (though I probably will)

I know that's my critical side, but those reasons are why it got a high 3 stars from me, not the rave reviews I've seen from others, I can definitely see why so many love it, the atmosphere and themes are great, and I love the main premise, and the writing style in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. Although this book had so much in it that I loved, it ultimately was not really for me. There were lots of beautiful passages, and it's undeniably original, but I found myself very distracted while reading it and unable to stay absorbed in the story. I am sure that it would be the perfect book for many other fans of gothic fantasy.

Undeniably original, on the whole I really enjoyed Belladonna. Like Bridgerton mixed with crime fiction and a touch of forbidden SJM fantasy love, this story was compelling. However, the plot was occasionally slowed by long dialogue about Signa’s internal conflict about society rules / her forbidden thoughts / hatred and then love for Death. It got so repetitive I started skipping over those sections. BUT the story itself, the characters and the twist at the end were excellent. I’m excited for book 2!

Signa Farrow was orphaned as a baby and has been moved from guardian to guardian her whole life. And for those 19 years, Death has followed her at every turn, literally. All her life she’s tried to keep him at a distance, but she’s about to learn she might just need him.

This was a very cool story concept and for the most part, I really enjoyed the execution. It was a bit of a slow starter, I found, as I got to know the characters and we were slowly introduced to the central mystery of the narrative. Once the set up was complete, though, I was thoroughly invested and the pace seemed to pick up.
My one main gripe is the age-old (pun entirely intended) cliche of the forbidden romance between an ageless immortal man and a teenage girl. I just find it so unnecessary, and it was the one thing that took me out of the story on multiple occasions. I know Signa’s inheritance being the reason for her circumstances essentially dictated her age, but there were definitely alternatives that could have aged her up five years or so.
That aside though, like I said, I did really enjoy this concept. The writing was beautiful (a little overly flowery, with a few repetitive similes here and there, but nothing that took me out of the story too much), and crafted a really beautiful and atmospheric world for these characters to inhabit.
The mystery was well-crafted and built suitable tension throughout. There were a few twists I predicted but plenty others that were surprising while not feeling like cheap twists for the sake of twists.
The characters and their relationships were all complex and fleshed out. It did a really good job of exploring all of their personal motivations and the driving forces behind their actions and interactions.
Some of the details in the lore and magic system surrounding ‘Death’, did leave me wanting. There were a few inconsistencies, but I would still be keen to read the sequel and see it explored further because I did find it quite unique.
Overall, I enjoyed the whole fantasy/gothic murder-mystery feel of it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot believe this novel took me so long to read. I stupidly didn't give it the attention it deserved when I first picked up, but sitting down on Saturday, I devoured it.

This book was absolutely brilliant. Signa is such an intriguing character and you just want to root for her given her past. The concept of this novel was amazing. I loved meeting Death, how Grace managed to make you want to know more about him and his powers, despite knowing what he brings. And then there is Sylas Thorly. The mysterious yet handsome stable boy.

This book had murder mystery, slow burning romance and twists you just don't anticipate.

Everyone should pick this up...and I cannot wait for book 2!

I love fantasy romance and I love murder mystery so combing these two elements was perfect. I found the story to keep me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. I was constantly guessing everything and everyone. I felt the dynamic Signa had with death to be very intriguing and one of the most interesting parts of the novel. The setting was beautiful and haunting and I felt that the author did a great job of creating a suffocating atmosphere in the house. I will be waiting patiently for the sequel to come out!

Sprinkle a Young Adult fantasy with elements of Period Drama and Murder Mystery, add some Gothic-infused paranormal vibes, and you have Belladonna, the first installment of Adalyn Grace's newest series.

"I know how society teaches us to be soft and dull and compliant, but you will not be any of those things, do you understand? Do not change the parts of yourself that you like to make others comfortable. Do not try to mold yourself to fit the standards someone else has set for us."

In Belladonna we follow Signa, a blossoming young woman searching to find her place in the world. Orphaned as a baby and from a family of great wealth, Signa has passed from custodian to custodian with betrayal, greed and death nipping at her heels while each custodian seems more interested in Signa's inheritance than in her welfare.

And there is more to Signa than meets the eye - she has been touched by Death himself, and yet she lives. She ventures further and further into Death's grasp in an effort to free herself of him - but there is more to him, too, than meets the eye.

Sent to live at Thorn Grove manor with the Hawthornes, her last remaining (and eccentric) relatives, Signa hopes that perhaps this is finally her chance to enter high society. She wishes to learn how to dance, how to conduct herself in polite company and, most importantly of all, to secure a good husband - and avoid falling for the charming stablehand. But her plans of becoming a lady of high society are waylaid when a restless ghost within the Thorn Grove manor claims to have been murdered, and Signa realises that if she doesn't soon solve this murder, her ailing cousin Blythe just might be next...

I loved this book from start to finish! The gothic vibe mixed in with a regency style setting was perfectly done. Signa is a compelling MC, although my favourite character had to be Blythe. I'm excited for the sequel to come out!

The mix of fantasy, mystery, romance and gothic elements made Adalyn Grace's Belladonna the perfect autumn read for me. This novel will appeal to readers of fantasy and historical romance.

Signa Farrow can see ghosts and Death, and cannot be killed. Following a string of deaths in her immediate family, the 'cursed orphan' is brought to Thorn Grove to live with the Hawthorne family. Upon arrival, she learns that her new guardian's wife recently passed away, and that her cousin Blythe is suffering from the same illness that claimed her mother. When Lilian's ghost tells her that she was poisoned, Signa teams up with Death himself to try and find the killer and save her cousin.

Thorn Grove, a huge manor with secret passages, a haunted library and endless corridors, provides an atmospheric setting for Belladonna. The novel is cleverly crafted; there were several plausible suspects and the combination of mystery and romance kept me engrossed until the end. The masquerade ball was sumptuous, and I loved following Signa's attempts to fit in with high society, which ultimately lead to her embracing her uniqueness and realizing that fitting in will not make her happy.

At the end of the novel, the mystery gets solved, and while the opening for the plot of the sequel Foxglove is set, it isn't an absolute cliffhanger and I felt that Belladonna could easily be read as a stand-alone. That said, I cannot wait to re-connect with the characters and hopefully explore the setting of Signa's ancestral home.

3.5 rounded up.

I thought this was an interesting premise and there were some well written passages - I particularly liked the prologue, the commentary on the compromise of self demanded by 'high society', especially in the time the book is set (which isn't exactly clear, but feels like sometime in the 19thcentury.)

The mystery had me guessing and jumping to conclusions just like the author wanted. I was half right in the end. I still wish one of the red herrings I clung on to was the answer to the mystery because it would have been more satisfying to me and made more sense I think.

I look forward to reading book two.

A few things that let this down for me were the repetitions of many central ideas, and although these are believable as a yong woman grappling to come to terms with who she is, where she fits in the world etc the same ideas were definitely repeated too often. I also felt like the phrasing 'the night itself' was a slight rip off from Addie La Rue. This was also repeated a few times too many for me.

That said, I still enjoyed this story - not sure that it lives up to the Knives Out comparison but maybe I'm being harsh?

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thank you to both NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc of Belladonna and making it possible to enjoy this awesome book.

I adored reading this so much. The concept, the mysteries, the characters. While I loved Signa, I especially fell in love with Blythe. I can’t wait to see where the second book will lead to. I wish I could already pick up Foxglove, but alas, it isn’t released yet. But I’ll definitely pick it up to follow the new mysteries that ended book 1! ✨

Sigma Farrow seems unable to die, and yet her whole life she has been haunted by the presence of Death. After being orphaned as a baby, she's been ferried off from one guardian to another, all preoccupied with her wealth rather than her wellbeing, as they all met untimely ends. When she finally arrives at the Hawthorne estate a few months before being able to claim her fortune, she's determined to make it work, but it seems someone is poisoning the family. Sigma and Death must become allies in the race to find the culprit and save Sigma's remaining relatives.

The book had such an awesome premise. I was intrigued by the mystery, and Sigma's struggle to fit into her new life was even endearing at points. However, Sigma's horniness for two boys fighting with her desire to be a proper socialite soon got old, and around the 60% mark there was an intimate-ish scene that had me cringing to death (pun intended). If the intention was to mock traditional values of purity, I'd like to congratulate the author, because Sigma's thoughts about having to preserve herself if she wanted to be successful during her debut season were... entertaining.

The mystery was the only thing that kept me reading this book during the second half, and I quite enjoyed the final twist. I do, however, think that the book would've done well as a standalone, though the sequel might be better now that the romance part is out of the way.

Overall, this was not my favorite book, but it was also not awful. I would've given it 3 stars had it not been for how awkward I felt during the intimate scenes. All in all, if you enjoy murder mysteries with romance (including "I need to choose between these two boys but it's not really a choice") you might enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

BELLADONNA is a fantasy murder mystery with a detective who can see death and cannot be killed. All her previous guardians have died so she's determined to use her unusual abilities to save her cousin. Someone's already poisoned her aunt and now are back to kill another family member.

It is a nicely twisty mystery, with a dysfunctional family to confuse matters. The Knives Out part of the pitch is very accurate, as this is a mystery that will confuse you and the family is a ball of secrets and disagreements. I loved the dynamics and trying to guess whodunnit - not to mention why. The answers are very satisfying when they come out at the end.

The other part of the pitch is Bridgerton, and there are societal rules that Signa has to step around. If you are into romance, she is attracted to two men in the book - Death and a stable boy who seems to be able to go anywhere and has much too fine clothes for his station. It's not the central part of the story, but it's pretty major.

Another part of Signa's abilities is that she can see ghosts and understand them. One such ghost is her dead aunt but there's also a dead bookworm who was my favourite ghost by quite some margin. He's trying to read his way through the library and acts like a very helpful librarian!

While there is a sequel, FOXGLOVE, coming, BELLADONNA works well as a contained novel. The mystery is wrapped up and the next book should be it's own mystery just following the same core cast (and possibly, based on the title, be situated at Signa's ancestral home?)

I really enjoyed the ride. Signa was a great MC and, let's be honest, Death as a love interest? Pure bliss.
However, (and I know I'll be a black sheep here) I had some issues with this book:
1) I loved the romance, but it didn't 100% satisfy me, it felt a bit too rushed;
2) some of the big twists were quite predictable;
3) I kept guessing about the murderer's identity and... well, I was so wrong. I really liked this revelation, but I didn't get the murderer's motives, not completely.
Despite all this complaining, I really liked this book and it's a solid 4-star for me.

What a page turner! This is the first book I've read by Adalyn Grace and I absolutely loved the writing style, It was so easy to read and enjoyable throughout, I seemed to fly through the 400 odd pages. I was so taken by the concept and the characters were so incredible, I'm rooting for Signa and Death. While some of the plot twists were obvious it didn't take away from my enjoyment overall. I'm really excited for book 2.

This book is dreamy combination of fantasy meets mystery with paranormal and gothic elements. This time I can judge this book with its cover because both of them are AMAZING!

A haunted house that is invaded by ghosts. A suspicious death of patriarch’s late wife and a suspicious illness of his young daughter whose condition gets deteriorated at each day.

Only 17 years old Signa Farrow who is called “cursed orphan” after everyone who adopts her keep dying one by one, a gifted girl who stands at the thin line between life and death, chewing the poisonous belladonnas to summon death to challenge him can save this family!

That girl lost her own family. She felt the cold breath of DEATH on her face, staring at shadowy figure of him directly. She did everything to lure him take her with him.

Slowly she realizes mysterious things about her life: She talks with the spirits, seeing ghosts and she also realizes she cannot kill herself. Each time she pops several belladonnas into her mouth, she feels the shivering feeling as a sign of death’s approaching.

When Signa accidentally killed her venomous Aunt Magda, she broke the important rule without knowing. Magda was not meant to die at that night so when a life is taken, another must be spared rule saved her cousin Blythe’s life.

Thankfully Blythe who suffers from mysterious illness is part of eccentric Hawthorne Family living at Thorn Grove. Signa is sent there to live with Hawthornes: her last remaining relatives, trying to understand the complex family dynamics.

As the patriarch of the family: Elijah mourns his wife Lillian through wild parties he throws at their eerie mansion where ghosts lurking around the corridors, Percy: his young son does everything to take his father’s attention, caring the young Blythe who is ill, showing the exactly same symptoms with her dead mother.

Signa meets with the spirit of Lillian and she realizes somebody in the house murdered her and unfortunately only Death and a sarcastic stable boy can help Signa to solve the mystery!

I loved to see how Signa’s character evolved and accepted her true powers. Of course Death was the most alluring and charismatic character of the book definitely intrigued me!

I loved the final twist and cliffhanger! I’m absolutely looking forward to read the second book! I had amazing reading time!

Going in, I had very high expectations for this one, and I wasn't disappointed. A perfect gothic setting and wow, what an imagination. I loved the mystery of the family past and just wanted to read on to find out more.
Lovable characters and equally unlovable ones, I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be picking up the next.

I loved this book! The atmosphere was spot on and I really enjoyed Signa and her relationship with other characters, especially death. It's not often I enjoy historical settings but this worked so well!