As the sole survivor when her parents, all of their guests, & servants are poisoned at a party, baby Signa lives with her grandmother & is happy for a while. After her grandmother also dies, Signa moves between distant relatives, most of them more interested in her inheritance than anything else. They all meet with sticky ends & Signa knows that Death has never been far from her side. Now nineteen-year-old Signa hates living with her aunt, & also hates hiding the secret that since her miraculous survival as a baby, she seemingly cannot die or stay injured for long, something she blames Death for. When her aunt dies during an argument with Signa, she is sent to live with her cousins - the rich Hawthorne family.

When Signa arrives, she finds that the mistress of the house, Lillian, recently died & that her daughter, Blythe, is mortally ill with the same sickness. Meanwhile Blythe's widowed father is more interested in drowning his sorrows & throwing parties to distract from his grief, whilst her older brother is distracted with trying to rescue to family business. It doesn't take long for Signa to realise that the house is haunted by more than just grief - Lillian, & other ghosts, wander the hallways & only Signa can see them. When Lillian's ghost tells her that she was murdered & that Blythe is also being poisoned, Signa knows she has to find the person responsible, but to do that she needs to call a truce & work with Death himself.

I've been waiting for a book that completely swept me away for a while & it's finally here. I absolutely loved the supernatural mystery side of things. Signa (I kept misreading her name as Sigma) is one of those main characters that starts off a bit annoying but then grows on you. Now love triangles are not one of my favourite tropes by a long shot, & yes, the romance was a little "OMG he's so hot" (there are a couple of quite steamy sex scenes in the book), & there are some problematic aspects. As characters though, both Sylas (handsome stable boy) & Death (yes, Death is one of the trio) were rather intriguing. Overall the mystery element & the writing won out over the romance for me, even though I did guess the guilty party & the twist. 4.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Belladonna is such an intricate book. It made me think about stuff that i never actually gave a thought for more than a second. One such thing is, Death being a character in this book makes it unique and the way the author explored death is very interesting and exciting. Signa was something totally new, different form the other book characters i have read. Again, her character development was very realistic and amazing really. I guess we can Adalyn Grace is the master of character development. When we talk about the plot, OH MY GOD. I never expected those plot twists! And the foreshadowing!! The author really did know how to give a fresh YA experience to readers .
This automatically is my number one standalone and will never stop recommending it enough! And especially if you are new to the fantasy genre this is made just for you.

This book is a combination of fantasy and mystery with paranormal and gothic elements entwined. Lets just say this is the perfect combination for a fantastic book that I couldn't put down.

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

Absolutely freaking gorgeous. I cannot wait to get my hands on this utterly beautiful book. The writing is phenomenal, the world building intricate yet understandable and the characters are complicated as they are wonderful. This immediately went on top of my list of favourite books read in 2022.

Adalyn Grace creates a murder mystery with spooky spiritual elements in Belladonna. The imagery and prose create an eerie atmosphere, setting the scene for what is about to happen.
The prologue begins with a party, where the guests are poisoned. A newborn baby we find out to be Signa, our main character, survives this ordeal although she was fed by her mother, who had also been poisoned. Death arrives to guide Signa's spirit to the other side but she does not die, and no one knows why.
Signa, now almost 20, is living with her awful aunt where everyone is convinced she is cursed or is a witch. Signa has spent years experimenting with her odd abilities, especially when she cannot die.
After accidentally killing her aunt during a conversation with Death, the suspected male main character of the novel, she is shipped off to live with other relatives in Thorn Manor which is a spine-chillingly haunted mansion where Signa soon realises her cousin Blythe is being poisoned by Belladonna - the poison she has lots of experience with. Determined to save her cousin, her and stableboy Sylas seek out answers in whatever way possible.
Now, I will stop discussing the plot here as you really need to experience it first-hand to appreciate the twists and turns.
This book was an unexpected delight. When I expected certain things to happen, the author changed course and it was wonderful to read. Belladonna was a perfect read as we approach Autumn. I think the cover is beautiful and seeing Signa's personal journey throughout was fantastic. She began as a neglected and lonely teenager with a lack of social experience and by the end, she was independent and confident in herself.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

Belladonna blends a murder mystery with a gothic romance beautifully. The time period is evocative, with descriptions of food and clothes and the murder mystery had me guessing until the final reveal. The romance with Death is cleverly executed!

A brilliant read.

A HUGE thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC !

This was my first book by Adalyn Grace and I’m absolutely amazed.
Something that I really need to talk about before getting into the rest is the writing style. It was absolutely magical and fit the story so well. I’m usually not the biggest fan of books with a 3rd person POV but this was absolutely MAGICAL. Grace created quotes that were so well said, that they got special places in my heart.

But what is the book even about ?

The book follows the nineteen year old orphan called Signa.
Throughout her life she was raised by multiple different people that fathomed her wealth more than her wellbeing- and each has met their ultimate end. Her last remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes that seem to live in the most beautiful palace a girl could ever dream of living in. Its patriarch? A mourning man that lives through wild parties. His son? A boy trying to save his family’s reputation. And the daughter? A hopeless girl with a hopeless illness. Signa, now in the middle of everything, is trying to figure out her life but: Everything changes with the appearance of her mothers spirit who claimed to have been poisoned. With the help of a surly stable boy, Signa is on her way to hunt down the killer; and who could be more of a help than Death himself?

This book was one of the best reads of 2022.
An intelligent orphan full of dreams, a cocky stable boy with a wish for wealth and a mysterious Grim Reaper called Death. Grace PERFECTED this book. From the start I have loved everything about Signa. Her strength, her thoughtfulness and her absolute kindness. Grace created a fairytale filled with mystery and gothic that will hook you from the first sentence. Belladonna made me want to live in a dark palace with a darker past myself.
Not only will the plot hit you unexpectedly, but the characters will too. Grace outdid herself with characters like Death or Signa. Not only did I scream at some of their lines, but I also cried; the different types of feelings I experienced while reading that book were more chaotic than ever before. I laughed because of Deaths and Signas banter, cried because of her past and screamed for the plot. The end left me hollowed, I can’t live without the sequel.

This book was absolutely phenomenal and a Top-Read. I CANNOT WAIT FOR FOXGLOVE!
Belladonna will be available on 30th August 2022 and can be purchased on Amazon.
Get yourself this masterpiece of a book.
#NetGalley #Belladonna

I cannot express in words how much I loved this! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did tbh. But look at this - a witch is our FMC, Death is one of our MMCs along with a mysterious guy called Sylas Thorly, the setting is in the regency era, and it's both fantasy and mystery. How can this get any better?!

"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"

Signa Farrow is a solitary being not by choice and aches for love that never reached her, but that doesn't make her weak. She's fierce and hates the rules that are imposed on women like how to laugh and how to eat. Her character transformation from meek to one of so much power was just so good! And Death is a character that will surely become everybody's new favourite fictional boyfriend.

To me, the best part was the relationship between Signa and Death. The fierce morbid bond between them that grows into something more was so beautiful to read! I couldn't help but root for the both of them. How they find solace in each other! The way their relationship has been written is so enchanting! I am a person who does not enjoy reading romance much but this was TOO GOOD!

I was so deeply engrossed in the story that I literally lost track of time and finished reading it well into midnight, that itself should be enough evidence to show how good this book is!!
A total 5/5 read for me!

With just the right amount of historical vibes, mystery elements and most importantly, romance, this book really won me over!

I was more invested in the murder mystery at times than in the romance, but I still enjoyed both! I loved the haunted, eerie vibes this book gave me. It wasn't too much, but just the right amount to set the mood. I had my suspicions about the mystery element and some of them did prove correct, but solving it with Signa was so fun! The ending really opens to so much more for the sequel and it really feels like those movies that have a giant plot twist or cliffhanger ending to really shake you up.

It took me a while to warm up to Death as a love interest, but I really liked his and Signa's dynamic. My final straw was that one scene towards the middle of the book and I literally screamed of delight. I even wish we got more of them spending time together other than solving a murder mystery to really develop that relationship further. I'm still suspicious of his intentions however, but maybe that's just me. I also really liked how that mild love triangle was handled.

I was absolutely rivetted by this book, I could not put it down. Overall, it is a gothic fantasy book, but it touches a lot of other genres making it unpredictable. The characters were well developed, and the concept was entirely original. I was taken by the sheer mystery of the book and the unconventional romance between Death and the main char.

Belladonna is a gothic inspired fantasy romance story with a murder mystery at it’s core. The storyline is a simple and straightforward one, but it’s also imaginative and intriguing. The opening scene is quick to draw the reader in, however some of the pacing is a little slow in certain chapters and my attention did wander on occasion. Nevertheless, Belladonna is well written and the author did a great job of creating a dark and chilling atmosphere without it being too heavy or scary. The setting is perfect and I loved the location of Thorn Grove, the eerie old house full of restless spirits.

Signa is a fascinating main character, she has spent most of her orphaned life shadowed by death and can see and talk to spirits. She cannot die and has found a way of summoning and communicating with ‘Death’. I enjoyed the whole premise of the story and Death recreated as a character is ingenious. He really grew on me as the story unfolded and I adored Signa’s unique relationship with him. After initially hating him, Signa found he could perhaps prove useful to her and their relationship begins to develop into friendship and more. They have a great connection, there are some humorous interactions as well as sweet and tender moments. Death, it would seem, may have a caring side…….

There are a couple of twists which I didn’t see coming as well as the cliffhanger at the end, which immediately makes you want to reach for the next book. I’m looking forward to the release of Foxglove and seeing where this book takes us. I do hope the cover art is as amazing as this one.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC and physical copy.

Before I go deeper into the review, thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (publisher) for this ARC in exchange for an independent and honest review.

I fell in love with the cover and the idea of this book as soon as I saw it and the book didn’t disappoint.

This book is perfect for the fall season coming. It has gothic, dark academia vibes, crimes and mystery!
I really enjoyed the plot and the world building.

Signa Farrow is a special girl who can see and talk to Death and see spirits. Her character development is very interesting. When society tried to push her, she decided to break the mould.

Death is a very interesting character, mysterious but caring. The romance between Signa and Death is a slow burn, he always let her choose and encourages her to make her own decisions. The romance is cute but also brings laughs. However…I have the feeling a love triangle is coming and I don’t know how I feel about that.

As usual, the book ends with a cliffhanger and I couldn’t believe it. I need the next one immediately!

The writing is refreshing and beautiful to read. It makes it easy to follow the story but also grabs you. The mystery, the gothic elements and the plot twists makes it easy to just read “one more chapter” but really you ending reading the whole book.

Overall, if you are looking for mystery and gothic vibes I think this book will be perfect for your Fall TBR.

I want to make it VERY clear that I was BULLIED into reading this book. Forced. fearing my life. (I may or may not be slightly exaggerating) but boy! I’m glad I was! When I started to read it I found I couldn't put it down.

It follows Signa, a young woman who has been surrounded by death her whole life, and is very angry at him for that. (Yes death is male, think about that for a moment) When her latest guardian dies, she heads to Thorn Grove to stay with some distant cousins. Sadly Thorn Grove is grieving and her cousin is gravely ill. Not wanting to see another family member die, Signa sets out to use her powers to save her cousin.

This book is a gothic supernatural mystery with a nice little romance subplot. It was an easy read and it kept me guessing the whole way through and a lot of speculation happened!

I read it way to quickly and now I will have to wait till the next one in the series comes out, as the ending of Belladonna is just ?!?!?! .. no words.. I don’t want to give anything away. but I’m ready for the next one, so I would REALLY appreciate it if they could publish this sooner rather than later.

Also a big thank you to the two who bullied me into reading this book. … I might have accidentally pre-ordered a signed copy…

"It's said that five belladonna berries are all it takes to kill someone."
From the very beginning when I read the prologue, I knew this book was something for me. I love the graphic in the book and much more I love the author's sense of storytelling.
Signa is a lovely main character. She has her dreams and is ready to do whatever it takes to reach them. But sometimes happens that we dream about things that do not suit us as well as we were wishing for. Hight ranked society is complicated and gives us the vibe of Jane Austen's books. The narrative is highly atmospheric, it is like Pride and Prejudice meets Crimson peak and Caraval at one moment.
Belladonna is a book full of plot twists where things are not always as they seem. Some of them were expectable, some I did not see coming. I savoured moments with Death on the scene. He was sarcastic, mysterious, and wise as well. I do not want to split any spoilers but one scene between Signa and Death was too rushed. I found it more realistic and healthy to go on some things a little bit slower.
I really enjoyed this book and for me, it is clearly 5 stars, but I am aware that Belladonna is not for everyone. I root for poetic descriptions, slow progress through the story, and having space to watch the development of characters.
I can not wait for a sequel. I need more of this world, atmosphere, and Death.
Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton for eARC!

Rating: 4.75/5⭐️

For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars… Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her wellbeing - and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.

It’s patriarch mourns his late wife, while his son grapples for control fo the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realises that the family she depends on could be in grave danger. And with the help of a surly stable and Death himself, she must hunt down the killer before there’s another victim.

I loved this Gothic Romance Fantasy! Signa is an incredibly interesting character and you just want to keep rooting for her to thrive and finally find a place to belong. I never though a love triangle with Death would be this exciting to read, and there is this massive plot twist to it! I can tell you know, I did not see that coming! Actually, this story is full of plot twists and they’re so well done, enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and keep reading this masterpiece!

The writing is marvellous! I always love a fantasy book written based in England (or the UK in general), so it was a bit of a sell point from the beginning! Adalyn Grace has a lovely writing style and it’s amazing the contract between the romantic, heartfelt scenes versus the not-greatly-scary-horror part. T=It’s such a fine line and beautifully acquired by this author!

The only reason why this book was not a full 5⭐️ read for me is because I felt that it missed that little extra romance…! I’m hoping for that little extra in the next book, specially after that little bit of a cliffhanger! Despise that, all the mystery, thriller and romance will keep you wanting more!

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace was described as a deliciously deathly gothic romance , and between that description and the simply gorgeous cover art I was immediately intrigued and keen to get my hands on a copy.
Happily I was not disappointed, this book was charming and engaging from the first page to the last with a clever premise, interesting characters, a good blend of romance and mystery and some simply beautiful writing.
Signa Farrow has been followed by Death all her life. She was orphaned as a baby , then raised by a series of increasingly distant family members, each of whom meet an untimely end. By the time she is nineteen willing new guardians are in short supply, so she is sent to live with the Hawthornes, cousins who are mourning the loss of the family matriarch Lillian. Arriving at the stately family home Signa finds a family dealing with grief in a myriad of ways, from excessive drinking and partying to throwing themselves into the family business. Unfortunately it seems that Death is not yet ready to leave Signa or her family alone , since her cousin seems to be suffering from the same illness that killed her mother.
You might be wondering why I have been capitalising Death in my review, and the simple answer is that he is one of the main characters in the book. Signa is able to see him, and even summon him if she is willing to bring herself close enough to death to do so, so it is no surprise when she sees the spirit of Lillian though somewhat more surprising when Lillian reveals she was being poisoned. Since her daughter is now showing many of the same symptoms she begs Signa to uncover the truth and save her before it is too late. It seems that the only way Signa will be able to do this is if she allies with Death.
This was such a fun read, with nods to an Agatha Christie style whodunnit with the stately home filled with a cast of mysterious and intriguing characters. The paranormal twist to the genre was a nice addition , it was what drew me to the book initially and gave it an originality that many conventional mysteries lack. Signa is a really compelling character and I found myself completely gripped by her story and by the blossoming love triangle between her character, Death and the mysterious Sylas. The romance was something of a slow burn at first but with enough steam to keep things interesting and to keep the book riding that fine line between YA and Adult fiction. Seeing Sign's character grow and develop over the course of the book was a really powerful example of a young woman taking control of her own life and place in a society that she had long felt on the outside of.
I have read and enjoyed some of this author's previous works but this is in another league, and I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series which I believe is expected in 2023.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Signa can see ghosts... and she cannot die. With her parents dead in her first years she has to rely on distant family members to live until she turns twenty.
Few months before her twentieth birthday her aun dies and she is whisked away to Thorn Grave to live with her last remaining living family. There she finds out the lady of the house had died recently and now her daughter is sick. With the help of Sylas, the stable boy and, surprisingly, Death she must find why she is sick and save her.

The concept was really interesing. I liked Signa a lot. I specially loved ( it might sound odd) the struggle she had fitting in. She had been raised as an outcast mostly and all she practically knew about society and its rules were from a book. So i liked how she tried to finda place to fit in and who she was.
Getting a little more specific. I am confused about how i feel about the romance. Who Sylas was and the stuff sorrounding him i found it unnecesary. The plot could have been literally the same without him and felt like the author had a good idea but didnt know how to develop it.

Ok so the thing about Death. Was odd af. I always though of Death as eldery idk how, The way he acted and talked. And we know he has like million years but i just .... making him a hot guy. The thing with the shadows was again odd af. She couldt know how he looked and i still dont get how could they touch hug or like u know THAT with the shadowy thing. It was not explained and neither was the I can show myself to people and look like i am human thing. and like when he appeared in the ballroom like couldnt people se him or idk. dEATH Was creepy af u teling me a grown up saw a baby or a toddler and then saw her future and was like we are destined to be togheter we will be togehter and then watch her grow and then kiss her and romantice her?? creepy af and its written as to be seen as a romantic gesture?? it truly felt like grooming and made me uncomfy.

Spoilers even tho like the review has spoilers but I wish Sylas had been another character and that the romance would have been them trying to be togheter with the power play thing and that death had been an old man who was there to mentor her and like they had a close relationship as tutor studant thing. That would have been better and less creepy than what it is. The mystery would have been there and the way it was resolved as well. the drama would have been there too. nothing would change about the plot just idk uncomfy

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
First I have to say that the cover is really beautiful. The same can be said about this story. I loved the characters and the gothic setting. It is really well executed. I fell in love with the characters immediately. And oh the plot twists. They were unexpected and you could not predict them The writing guides you in one direction and then makes a twist and nothing is as you expected it to be. I really loved the characters of Silas, Signa and Death. They were all so well written. And I can't wait to read the book's sequel Foxglove.

New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

This was such a great read!

What I liked:
- Interesting premise
- Beautiful world building
- Gothic vibes
- Complex, interesting characters
- The dark mystery surrounding the family
- The old manor filled with restless spirits
- Death was such a cool, alluring character!
- The twists
- The romance between Signa and Death

What I disliked:
- That it ended on a cliffhanger!
- I know I said I love Death as a character, but the whole 'I've been waiting for this' vibe and how he's been watching her since she was a baby was a liiiiiiittle weird.

Overall, a great read! Would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

1. Characters:
-Signa Farrow is an orphan girl who must inherit her family's fortune, but that's not the interesting thing about her. Signa Farrow can see Death. And he talks to her. After her last guardian dies, she is taking to Thorn Grove, where her last relatives live. But not everything it's what it seems, because someone is killing the Hawthornes.
She is a very interesting character, she tries her best to find herself, in a society where everyone expects things from girls:marriage, children, obedience. But she starts question herself, as we will see throughout the book. She is a curious girls, who loves puzzles, i liked her sarcasm and i liked her character development.

-Death is the most interesting character in this book, he is always there, talking to her, listening and always helping. He is described as shadows and darkness, but from time to time, we can see under that.

"Hello, Little Bird. Care to dance?"

-i liked the rest of the family too, i felt so sorry for Blythe and for her father, they have a sad story, it was easy to empathize with them.

2. Plot/Writing:
-i loooved the mystery, the gothic elements, i am a sucker for haunted mansions and things that move by themselves, and the athmosphere in this book was amazing. As the story unfolds, i was so positive i know who the killer, but i was so wrong! The plot twist left me speechless.

"...yet she noticed from the corners of her eyes as she passed her vanity that the reflection in the mirror remained still. Neck prickling, she paused to examine the mirror, hoping the image was a trick of light. But when her reflection stared back at her, its edges fuzzy and a smile that Signa wasn't wearing curling at her lips, she knew this was no trick."

-the writing is beautiful, easy to read, but very engaging and intriguing.

3. What i liked:
-i liked a lot the relationship between Death and Signa. The romance between them is not immediately, even if he knows her since ever. He always let her choose what she wants, he is respectful towards her, and he always helps her. I laughed at their scenes lot of times, they are really delightful.

"But at Death's side, slipping her hand in his, she realised she needn't endure that alone. There was no pretending. No lying about what she wanted or molding herself into someone else. With Death, Signa could be wholly herself. With him, she wasn't so lonely."

4. What i did not liked:
-i smell a love triangle.

5. The ending:
-i wasn't expecting the ending to be emotional and to have a cliffhanger at the same time. The plot twist and the unravel of the killer, they were done really great. The cliffhanger didn't even bother me that much,

All in all, i recommend this book. It's perfect for October, great for fans of gothic books.