Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Belladonna

A YA mystery pseudo romance with an anthropormophized version of Death. I kept expecting her to ask for Death's real name. I feel like a lot of books I've read recently somehow all end up set in a somewhat haunted giant old manor with a mystery and a vague enemies to lovers (thinking in particular of "House of Marionne"). Other than the fact that Death himself was a main character, I didn't find this all that dark or gothic. I thought the mystery was better developed than the romance.

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dovahkiin_freyja's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Once she is taken in as a ward at her cousin's home, Signa realizes that death is coming for her cousin, Blythe. Using every weapon at her disposal, and determined to find out who's behind her Blythe's sickness, it's a race against time. But murder, poisonings, and betrayal aren't the only things in store for Signa.

This story is full of ghosts and murder, with a surprising romantic aspect to it.

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miyothecat's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book should have stayed in the Wattpad era.

Full of heavily implied pedophilia and grooming, as well as manipulation. The hypocricy of the book trying to sprinkle “feminist” messages here and there only to destroy all of that by having a horrible male love interest who basically grooms and manipulates the main character.

The murder mystery part of the book also made no sense. The conclusion of the murder mystery was so underwhelming. I can’t believe it was such a lame murder motive.

As far as I can tell from the preview at the end of the book, the second book is going to be even worse so I’m not going to even bother picking it up.

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cams_shelf's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

What made me want to read this book is that death personified is a love interest. If you think that's interesting and like a good mystery, a romance side plot, and strong female main characters, I'd definitely reccomend this book. The plot twists were good, and I think the story is well written.

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misszoe's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This may actually be my favorite book this year. If I could, I'd give it more stars.
My favorite part of the book was the main character, Signa. With many books, I think its hard for me to relate to the main character. They're often the least defined in my opinion, but with this, it was very different. Signa was very much thought through but not in a way that felt forced. Her entire personality and motivations felt very logical and in tune and she turned out to be a character I very much cared for. I could feel her desperation at times but I also felt her triumphs and while this may sound dramatic, it's the best I can describe it. I loved Signa's character growth over the course of the book. It made sense even if it was painful for her. And the message at the core of it is something I think everyone can relate to.
The writing itself was wonderful. The way Adalyn Grace played with language was beautiful and I loved that the theme kept the same throughout the book. I loved the plant metaphors obviously but also the winter and night ones. They fit together beautifully.
As for the plot, I love a good murder mystery and it gave me exactly this. I had many theories but it was hard for me to guess what was actually happening. Every character had unique motivations and their own secrets so it was fun to keep guessing what was actually going on. All the characters made sense though. Special shout-out to Death, Signa and Blythe for being my favorites.
All in all, I can't wait to read the second book!

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sova_bean's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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aecoralie's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

it's been a long time since i enjoyed a fantasy book this much. this story had everything i needed and more: compelling characters, atmospheric setting, and a nice mystery that kept everything nicely flowing. i can't wait to read the second book!

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themelleh's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-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? No

2.5

her cousin is dying but sure, take a moment to boink death on the non-corporal plane while all the other souls are crossing the rainbow bridge.

and yeah, just let percy get away with being a matricidal/sororicidal little shit. i would have told blythe who tried to kill her and who did kill her mother, told elijah who killed his wife and tried to kill his daughter. screw pretence.

Death being Sylas sucked and was such a cop out. I hate love triangles but it was <i>too</i> easy and Signa didn’t have to make a choice because it was made for her.

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