Death has followed Signa Farrow her whole life. Literally. Now, he may be the only one who can help her.
By: Gianna Liantonio
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a fast paced, gothic fantasy novel that hooks you in from the first page. It was published on August 30, 2022 and I wish I bought this book sooner!
Signa Farrow is not like other people. She has two different colored eyes, can see spirits and more importantly, is incapable of dying. Every time she eats a little of the Belladonna berries, she is able to exist in a realm between life and death, using Death’s powers. Originally, she was reluctant to use them, wanting to just be a normal girl. But, Fate has other plans for her and those plans involve Death.
At first, she was angry at Death for taking every guardian she has lived with away from her, starting with her parents when she was a baby. Death was meant to claim her too, but he discovered that Signa is the only human he can touch without killing her. However, Signa soon realizes that Death, despite not being human at all, isn’t as heartless and cruel as she once thought.
After the death of her aunt, Signa must go to her last living relatives, the Hawthornes. Escorted by the mysterious stable boy, Sylas Thorly, she becomes transfixed by the immaculate place known as Thorn Grove. She meets her uncle Elijah who has two children, Percy and Blythe. Elijah, still mourning the loss of his wife Lillian, is just as much a ghost as the ones that haunt the grounds. Under the care and instruction of the governess Marjorie, she must learn to become a woman of society, learning how to dance, dine properly, and speak to other ladies and potential suitors to ensure her future.
She becomes involved in a murder plot when she learns her cousin Blythe is ill with the same ailment that killed Lillian. The symptoms being the exact same garnered suspicion of foul play and Signa was determined to save her, not letting Death take any more of her family. However, he is just the person to help her in her quest where he decides to teach her how to use her powers properly. A romance even starts to blossom, leaving Signa uncertain of what she truly wants for her future.
I have never seen Death personified so well as I’ve seen in his book. He was witty, sarcastic and despite being inhuman, was still somehow just as empathetic as one. I loved seeing his character, especially when he interacted with Signa. He showed that all he has ever done from the start was to protect her, wanting her to live a happy, fulfilled life.
Signa Farrow is a complex, witty and feisty character. She tries to follow her book of etiquette to a T, but she wishes she could be herself and not have to abide by the rules of society; a world she has yearned for, but once in her grasp, isn’t so sure it’s what she wants. In addition to this, she learns that one day she will become a reaper just like Death. She doesn’t know if this is what she wants, but as she gets to know Death more intimately, she learns more about what he does and wonders if it would truly be so bad.
The Hawthornes had been nothing but kind to her, receiving lessons from Marjorie, and getting to know her cousins. For the first time, Signa was sent somewhere she doesn’t wish to leave so soon. This further motivated her to find the killer and save her family that she has grown to love.
I deeply enjoyed how Signa finally found a home where she felt she belonged and she could be happy. Compared to her other guardians who only cared about her inheritance, the Hawthornes only saw Signa. The scenes with Percy and Blythe were my favorite in how they started to act like siblings even though they were cousins. Seeing the relationship between Death and Signa grow was very interesting. As someone she used to loathe and wish to kill, even though entirely impossible, she grew to see him as something other than a reaper and from there, love started to form. I found myself engrossed in their relationship, finding it fascinating that Grace was able to personify Death and have him not only speak but care for someone so deeply.
The whole book from beginning to end was incredible. I did not expect one thing, especially the ending when we find out who was behind everything. This book will have you guessing every second and make you suspicious of everyone. I truly thought I knew the answer until it was revealed and I was very wrong!
The world within this book was crafted so beautifully with such a fantastical, haunting feel to it. I cannot wait to read the next book which is within a three book series with Foxglove and Wisteria following after this one. I highly recommend anyone who loves gothic fantasy to definitely go pick this book up!
