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3.0 AVERAGE
3.0 AVERAGE
A solid 3 stars from me—it’s a well written young adult gothic fantasy with a fascinating premise. The immaturity of the execution and the predictability of the plot make it clear that this is very much a young adult book.
Let’s start with the positives: The atmosphere is lush and dripping with gothic elegance. The haunting estates, the poison-laced intrigue, and the supernatural elements—especially Signa’s connection to Death—had the potential to create a darkly intoxicating tale. Signa herself is an interesting protagonist in theory, orphaned and immune to death, but in execution, she often feels frustratingly naive. She stumbles through the mystery with more luck than skill, and while that works for a coming-of-age story, it makes her feel passive rather than truly cunning or powerful.
Then there’s the romance. The concept of falling for Death? Intriguing. Death is brooding and mysterious in the way YA love interests often are, but his and Signa’s connection feels rushed and inevitable rather than earned.
And speaking of predictability—this book doesn’t exactly keep you guessing. The mystery elements feel like they’re following a script, and any seasoned fantasy or mystery reader will likely see the twists coming a mile away. The narrative holds your hand a little too much, which makes sense given the younger YA audience, but for readers looking for a more sophisticated gothic fantasy, it might feel underwhelming.
I will say that 15 years ago I would have given this book 4 stars and continued on to Book 2, Foxglove. As a 30 year old, however, I'm going to move on to another title.
Let’s start with the positives: The atmosphere is lush and dripping with gothic elegance. The haunting estates, the poison-laced intrigue, and the supernatural elements—especially Signa’s connection to Death—had the potential to create a darkly intoxicating tale. Signa herself is an interesting protagonist in theory, orphaned and immune to death, but in execution, she often feels frustratingly naive. She stumbles through the mystery with more luck than skill, and while that works for a coming-of-age story, it makes her feel passive rather than truly cunning or powerful.
Then there’s the romance. The concept of falling for Death? Intriguing. Death is brooding and mysterious in the way YA love interests often are, but his and Signa’s connection feels rushed and inevitable rather than earned.
And speaking of predictability—this book doesn’t exactly keep you guessing. The mystery elements feel like they’re following a script, and any seasoned fantasy or mystery reader will likely see the twists coming a mile away. The narrative holds your hand a little too much, which makes sense given the younger YA audience, but for readers looking for a more sophisticated gothic fantasy, it might feel underwhelming.
I will say that 15 years ago I would have given this book 4 stars and continued on to Book 2, Foxglove. As a 30 year old, however, I'm going to move on to another title.