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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'll admit I was hesitant to begin this, as my taste has been going away from romantasy lately, specifically with the majority of the plot centered on the romance. But this reminded me what I've been missing from good romantasy stories and was so lovely to return to. The setting was such a lovely dark, Gothic place to be as we're getting into the autumn season. Signa wasn't too much of one thing to make her annoying and seemed much more real to me than heroines of other romantasy stories I've read lately. She felt all her feelings unashamedly and never truly tried to be something she knew she wasn't. Her and Death's relationship felt natural in its development and progression, and the intimacy was so sweet I was kicking my feet. I'm a sucker for a non-sexual physical contact, and Death certainly delivered, that poor touch-starved eternal being baby. The mystery was captivating almost from the start to where I truly did not want to put the book down once signa got involved with trying to figure out who the bad guy was. I didn't even guess right until right before the killer was revealed, but I did guess something else long before it was revealed that had me literally squealing. The only reason I took off half a star was that the writing was just a little repetitive and got annoying a few times and took me out of the story, but overall this was an excellent excellent read, especially for fall/winter timeframe.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I had so much fun with this book. I loved the murder mystery, it brought out my inner detective (although I did NOT have it figured out & never do).
Say what you want but I absolutely loved my man Death, the shadow-wielding reaper of souls. I cannot wait to get more of him in the next book!
Say what you want but I absolutely loved my man Death, the shadow-wielding reaper of souls. I cannot wait to get more of him in the next book!
The book was interesting. I enjoyed the concept but I just felt like it dragged out for far too long
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Adalyn Grace delivers a gothic Victorian tale that feels like it was stitched together with velvet shadows, candlelight, and whispers of Death itself. For a debut novel, Belladonna is impressive - fluid writing, steady pacing, and a world that immediately grips you.
From the very beginning, the prologue hooked me. A baby spared from Death, a mystery surrounding her parents, and the looming question: why couldn’t Death take her? That alone was enough to keep me turning pages.
The story unfolds with an intriguing murder mystery, but it never feels rushed or bogged down - the pacing is spot on. The gothic atmosphere reminded me of Caraval (without feeling like a copy), and I adored how Grace balances elegance with darkness. There’s a sense of theatricality to the world that works beautifully with the themes of fate, society, and the inescapable presence of Death.
Speaking of Death - what a character! The relationship between Signa and Death is strange, alluring, and haunting. Watching her interact with him gave the book that dangerous yet magnetic edge.
And then came the epilogue. Absolutely blindsided me. I was fully expecting a slower burn across the series, but Grace pulled the rug out from under me in the very last pages. It’s the kind of twist that doesn’t just shock you - it propels you into the next book. If this is how the series begins, I can’t wait to see where it’s going.
All in all, Belladonna is gothic YA fantasy done right: eerie, romantic, atmospheric, and full of just enough mystery to keep you guessing until the end.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Adalyn Grace delivers a gothic Victorian tale that feels like it was stitched together with velvet shadows, candlelight, and whispers of Death itself. For a debut novel, Belladonna is impressive - fluid writing, steady pacing, and a world that immediately grips you.
From the very beginning, the prologue hooked me. A baby spared from Death, a mystery surrounding her parents, and the looming question: why couldn’t Death take her? That alone was enough to keep me turning pages.
The story unfolds with an intriguing murder mystery, but it never feels rushed or bogged down - the pacing is spot on. The gothic atmosphere reminded me of Caraval (without feeling like a copy), and I adored how Grace balances elegance with darkness. There’s a sense of theatricality to the world that works beautifully with the themes of fate, society, and the inescapable presence of Death.
Speaking of Death - what a character! The relationship between Signa and Death is strange, alluring, and haunting. Watching her interact with him gave the book that dangerous yet magnetic edge.
And then came the epilogue. Absolutely blindsided me. I was fully expecting a slower burn across the series, but Grace pulled the rug out from under me in the very last pages. It’s the kind of twist that doesn’t just shock you - it propels you into the next book. If this is how the series begins, I can’t wait to see where it’s going.
All in all, Belladonna is gothic YA fantasy done right: eerie, romantic, atmospheric, and full of just enough mystery to keep you guessing until the end.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Imagine Bridgerton, only gothic, where Death is the leading man, and ghosts are real. Signa, our leading lady who wants nothing more than to make her debut into polite society, instead grows into herself as she tries to protect her ailing cousin from poison, under pressure from the ghost of her aunt, who was similarly poisoned.
Honestly, there are some truly dazzling moments of yearning and romance (the dance in the red dress! And other such moments I shan't spoil...). Thrilling power and ruthless determination are showcased, until the truth bleeds over the pages in a suitably dramatic end.
The epilogue has me itching to start the sequel!
Honestly, there are some truly dazzling moments of yearning and romance (the dance in the red dress! And other such moments I shan't spoil...). Thrilling power and ruthless determination are showcased, until the truth bleeds over the pages in a suitably dramatic end.
The epilogue has me itching to start the sequel!