ARC Review: Belladonna (Belladonna #1) by Adalyn Grace
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Series: Belladonna #1
Author: Adalyn Grace
Published August 30th 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton
Goodreads Synopsis
For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars...
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.
Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, 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.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Signa Farrow has always known death. Orphaned as a new born, she has been passed from one family member to another in her nineteen years, and her guardians have often died. But, considering most of them only cared about the wealth she could bring them, it wasn't much of a loss. Signa is comfortable in the company of Death, and has worked out how to reach Death, and communicate with him with the help of Belladonna berries. Now with her latest family members, she discovers not all is as it seems. Her guardian is mourning the death of his wife from a mysterious wasting disease, one which his daughter, Blythe, seems to be suffering from as well. He ignores his son, Percy, and his business is about to collapse. Soon, Signa realises that the spirit of Lillian is trying to find her, and that her death may have been murder - and someone wants to kill Blythe too. Working with Death to solve the mystery, the sparks fly, and Signa is risking losing not just her heart, but her life too.
When I started this book, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was hooked, however, from the first chapter. Belladonna is full of poetic prose and lyrical speech, with a plot line which grips your attention, and doesn't want to let you go. Signa was a character who was strong, but extremely vulnerable too. She'd never had anyone who really cared about her, and as a rich, orphaned heiress, she was surrounded by people who wanted her money, not her attention. She found a good family in the Hawthorne's, though the secrets that were hiding just below the surface were doomed to come out. Yes, some chapters were a little boring, with the side plot of Signa preparing herself for society, and marriage, whereas when the mystery and murder plot line took hold, I could barely put the book down. There's a hint of a love triangle, but it's obvious what's really happening, so I wasn't too fussed by it. I also guessed a little at the true culprit, but there were a number of twists and turns along the way that blew me away. I'm loving the world building, and am glad this was not the standalone I was expecting. Bring on Foxglove!
Dates Read:
June 21-24, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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