Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

51 reviews

xoxlululuxox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

Belladonna follows Signa in her search for answers to her inability to die; which eventually changes to the search for answers to prevent the death of her cousin. Throughout her journey she quarrels with Death only to grow closer to him and lean on him in her time of need. 

This story is everything I could have wanted. I love books that feature Death as a person, especially when it is done in this manner. I loved his character, and the relationship he and Signa formed throughout the story. The mystery surrounding Blythe, Signa's cousin, was also intriguing and had me guessing until the very end. 

The idea that Signa has the powers of Death is also super interesting. We still don't know much about how or why, and it makes me look forward to the next books in the series to find out, but at the same time, it felt like one of the only mysteries that would carry forward. 

As much as I loved this book from the start, I am a little disappointed in the ending. The story was pretty much wrapped up within the main chapters of this book; the main mystery solved and other than the lingering questions of 'how did Signa get her gift' and 'what happened at Foxglove' we aren't left with much to carry on to the next book... until the epilogue which introduces more questions. But still, I feel that having the book end reasonably neatly and requiring an epilogue to continue is not 'enough'. 

This is my only complaint though, and as much as I personally don't enjoy this structure, I really did love the rest of the book, and the writing style. It was absolutely beautiful, and the cover really sells it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Self harm, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Death, Blood, Terminal illness, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

kaits_shelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

such a good witchy book! i cannot wait for the next one to come out

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Terminal illness

jenn_chem's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

This is the “girl falls in love with death” story I always wanted. Mysterious plot with details I didn’t see coming. Love when a reveal makes me want to immediately reread the whole thing. I’ll have to do so shortly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Terminal illness

Minor: Abandonment and Child abuse

anoelle896's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Chronic illness, Blood, Gore, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Physical abuse, Classism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Body shaming, and Alcohol

kassidyreads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism and Fire/Fire injury

annasneddon's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Terminal illness, and Body horror

brooketreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

It was such a great read. It felt to me almost like Lemony Snicket’s meets Haunting of Blymanor. I liked all the characters. Signa getting to try to bond and build a relationship with her cousins was so sweet to me. There’s a mystery element. It truly had me like the meme from Always Sunny when I was trying to explain all the possible suspects and their motives to my husband (who did not care). Just before the reveal, as in the page before. I slammed the book shut and started screaming to my husband what I had figured out. Screaming. So overall, I just really enjoyed this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Terminal illness

Moderate: Vomit and Alcoholism

Minor: Body horror

ingrid6's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Book felt slow at times, but overall was an enjoyable read. Some of the plot twists were fairly predictable.
There is a sequel, undecided if I will read it just yet. Vaguely reminds me of the murder mysteries by Deanna Raybourn 

the ancient entity/being x 20 year old girl romance is NEVER going to be for me. Would have enjoyed the romance aspect more without it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Sexual content

katesmars's review against another edition

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Pedophilia, Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Self harm

geiravor's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol