Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

45 reviews

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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 can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get to this one! A dark romantasy with an intriguing mystery that I absolutely devoured. That cliffhanger ending, along with some unresolved plot points, makes me wish that the second book in this series could come sooner!

the only thing I didn’t really like was the resolution of the mystery. I thought it happened so quickly and I didn’t buy into the culprit.

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Content Warnings

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

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

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Body horror

Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Grief, Vomit, Sexual content, and Infertility

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

kbairbooks's review

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.

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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

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!

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Sexual 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!!!! 

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Content Warnings

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

cover2covertx's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Body horror

moonchild_cos's review

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

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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