Published: August 30, 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Belladonna #1
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 416 (Hardcover)
My Rating: 5.0/5.0
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.
I didn’t have plans to read this book until I saw a review by Elliot Brooks on her YouTube channel that totally changed my mind. Much to my delight, I completely fell in love with this book and it’s dark, moody atmosphere and the ever present spectre of death.
Signa Farrow cannot die, however everyone around her seems to have no trouble passing away into the void much to Signa’s detriment. She’s been passed from guardian to guardian since her parent’s poisoning shortly after her birth and the deaths have made her unwanted. An outcast despite her inheritance. When her current guardian dies, Signa is soon whisked away to Thorn Grove, a majestic manor house already filled with the grief of loss. Lillian Hathorne, lady of the house, passed and her daughter Blythe seems to be ill with the same horrible wasting sickness. Elijah and his son Percy are distraught not only from Lillian’s death, but the impending demise of Blythe as well. Not to mention, Signa can see the dead and Lillian is haunting the corridors, wailing in the night and ensuring that no one has peace because it seems that her death may have been murder.
Signa and the handsome stable hand who escorted her to Thorn Grove team up to solve the mysterious happenings at the manor. Sylas is suspiciously well-dressed for a stable hand and has grandiose plans, so I was more than a little curious about him as the story progressed. And lest I forget to mention him, Death is a significant presence throughout the story and not necessarily in his official capacity. Signa is the only one who can see him and interact with him without dying, and it seems that she shares abilities with him as long as they stay in contact or she is in a state of semi-death. Though she initially loathes his presence, he grows on her as the story progresses and begins to hone her abilities to help solve the murder of Lillian and identify who is now poisoning Blythe.
I appreciated how this book handled the difficult subjects of death and mortality while also being the best sort of angsty, slow-burn romance. It’s apparently not difficult to romanticize the ferrier of souls, whose true face remains a mystery though to her credit, Signa certainly did not fall for him right away because she has spent years both dreading and desiring his presence. It’s a book full of complicated feelings, that’s for certain. Not to mention, the scenery itself is darkly enchanting and the whole book is *atmospheric as hell*. All in all, I absolutely loved it and found Signa to be a strong, admirable main character full of relatable desires and hopes for the future. I think this can be read as a standalone, but there will be a sequel called Foxglove out in 2023.
Powder & Page 