Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

112 reviews

remi_jane's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Murder, and Physical abuse

kbairbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This was so much fun! A murder mystery that wasn’t scary?? I love it! Dark, and at times creepy, but filled with love and family and so much fun. And that ending?! Oh my gosh. I loved the ending so freaking much. I can’t wait for Foxglove!! Although I thought for a bit maybe book two would focus on the mystery of her origin? But oof I seriously loved how it ended and all the final ‘battle scenes’ if you will. Mysterious, deadly, and oh so good.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content

asipofcozy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

What an absolute page-turner full of horror, murder, dark mystery, Victorian-era setting, and intrigue. 

I have read quite a few YA fantasy murder mysteries, especially from Kerri Mansiscalco; However, if I would have to compare Adalyn Grace's ability to keep me enraptured and guessing over authors, I would choose Grace hands down. 

I picked this book up for three reasons:
1. the main character can see spirits and commune with death
2. the gothic vibes
3. a murder mystery

And it hit all so perfectly. 

Signa is by far a perfect character. In fact, her flaws are what make her so intriguing. You can see how she struggles with wanting to be this perfect Victorian lady. Yet when she gets that opportunity, she struggles with how confining and suffocating it actually is. It's that struggle of following society - especially a society where etiquette is everything - and being her own person. 

More important to me was the murder mystery. The actual murder was on my "list of suspects" but Adalyn Grace does a marvelous job at throwing off the tracks of the murder. You feel like you are constantly second-guessing your choices. That's what a murder mystery should be! 

I cannot wait for Foxglove in August because oh man that ending!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Gore, Death of parent, Classism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Sexual content

marleywrites's review against another edition

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

4.5

I was swept away by this fantasy, mystery, and romance mash up of a story. I loved the gothic vibes and Signa’s sharp mind. I didn’t see any of the plot twists or reveals coming, (I mean, I rarely do, but still) and they were all so captivating. 

The romance in this book was perfect. Signa struggling to choose between Sylas and Death was *chef’s kiss* in my opinion. 

The Hawthorne’s have a LOT of traumatic history to deal with, and more just kept coming! This writing was engaging and pulled me in. I wanted to know more about the family’s mysteries. 

I cannot wait for Foxglove to come out, that ending left me hanging! Plus the UK covers are gorgeous and I must collect them. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Medical content

caseymac's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Audiobook: This is hands down the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. Kristin Atherton brings the story to life with her narration— normally I much prefer reading as it unbinds the words from voice and tempo but I am sure this book is better for her reading. I will be recommending this book to everyone. Honestly, 5 stars are not enough!!!! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, and Death

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Murder, Chronic illness, Child death, and Sexual content

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, and Animal death

l_e_lavalle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? N/A

4.0

It's a good book, I saw the plot twist from a mile away but it was written in a way where it was still fun.  I'm not a huge fan of romances where the love interest is super old compared to the main character but at least she was an adult.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Minor: Vomit

justkimmithings's review against another edition

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

5.0

The gothic fantasy romance of my dreams!!! I absolutely loved everything about this book. Couldn’t have picked a better first read of 2023. Death and Signa are EVERYTHING. 

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, there were so many twists. It was done so incredibly well. Foxglove can’t get here soon enough!! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Vomit and Murder

Minor: Physical abuse

faithwingo's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny and Grief

ccouey's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Vomit and Sexual content