Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one 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.
Purchase Link: Belladonna
I chose Belladonna almost entirely because of the covers. They were breathtaking, dark, and romantic in a way that immediately pulled me in. Once I read the synopsis and realized this was a gothic mystery wrapped in paranormal elements and historical atmosphere, I knew it was exactly the kind of story I love.
From the moment I started reading, I was completely swept away. This was one of those books where the world inside the pages became my reality. Even when I was not actively reading, I was thinking about it, longing to step back into the story. It wrapped itself around me and did not let go. When I finished, I immediately picked up book two without hesitation.
Structurally, this story felt like the perfect blend of several things I already love. It reminded me of the Lily Adler Mysteries in its historical setting and its sharp, observant female protagonist navigating a society where women are expected to be quiet and compliant. It also carried echoes of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in its exploration of death, immortality, and the spaces between life and what comes after. Belladonna feels like the best parts of both worlds combined into something entirely its own. A paranormal mystery where death and the living coexist, layered with intrigue, danger, and emotional depth.
The characters are where this book truly shines. Signa, the main character, was everything I love in a protagonist. She is tragic, cursed, broken, and shaped by immense loss and injustice. And yet, somehow, she remains empathetic, strong, and deeply caring toward others. She could have become hardened or cruel after everything she endured, but instead she carries herself with a quiet ferocity and compassion that made her impossible not to love.
The supporting characters were equally compelling. Because this is a mystery, there were constant moments of uncertainty about who could be trusted. But even when characters made questionable choices or behaved poorly, they never felt villainous for the sake of being villains. Their actions were rooted in grief, pain, fear, and unhealed wounds. I loved being able to see behind the brokenness and understand why people behaved the way they did. The paranormal characters added an entirely different layer, dark, mysterious, otherworldly, and deeply fascinating. I never wanted their chapters to end.
The themes in Belladonna are layered and heavy in the best way. Death is at the center of the story, not just as an ending, but as a presence. The book explores the circle of life, grief, and what happens in death’s wake. Some deaths feel earned after a long life. Others arrive too soon, leaving devastation behind. By personifying Death itself, the story gives form to something abstract and terrifying, turning it into something tangible and emotionally complex.
One of the most striking themes was betrayal and self preservation. Many characters are forced to fend for themselves when grief fractures their family structure. Everyone is hurting. Everyone is surviving. And in that survival, trust is fragile. At the same time, the story shows how connection, friendship, and loyalty can still grow in the middle of tragedy.
Another powerful layer was identity. Signa is given the chance to reinvent herself and must decide who she wants to be and what kind of life she truly wants. Watching her try on different versions of herself and wrestle with those choices was emotional and deeply relatable.
What stood out to me most, though, was the ethical question at the heart of the story. Is it ever justified to hurt one person to save another? If one life can be spared at the expense of another, who gets to decide which life is worthy of a second chance? Placing that power in the hands of Death created an unsettling and fascinating tension that stayed with me long after I closed the book.
My final thoughts are simple. I absolutely loved this book. I dare say it is one of my favorite books I have read so far, if not the favorite. I am counting down the seconds until I dive fully into book two, and I can only hope it is just as good, if not better.
New York Times bestselling author
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent four years working in live theatre, acted as the managing editor of a nonprofit newspaper, and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
Website: adalyngraceauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoradalyngrace/
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