If you’ve read my October 2023 Reading Wrap Up (and you definitely should) you’ll know that Belladonna by Adalyn Grace was a stand-out read for me. A gothic-infused young adult fantasy that interweaves romance with murder-mystery, Belladonna is set in a world loosely based on Victorian England. It’s a time when everything is prim and proper, and where ladies should be seen and not heard (otherwise be sent to the madhouse). It’s the perfect backdrop for a novel where the main character speaks her mind, speaks to Death, and comes to realise that she doesn’t give a shit what anyone else thinks of her.
Belladonna Summary
Belladonna centres around our main character, Signa Farrow, a girl who cannot die. As a baby her closest family and friends were murdered at a ball from belladonna poisoning but when Death came to collect Signa, she was alive and well. From that point, Signa is passed from cruel relative to cruel relative who are more interested in her wealth than her well-being. This is until she is shipped off to Thorn Grove to live with her wealthy, eccentric relatives – The Hawthornes. Reeling from the death of the family matriarch months earlier, Thorn Grove and the lives of its inhabitants are shrouded in mystery, misery and murder. As another member of the family is again on death’s doorstep, Signa races against time to solve the past, and soon-to-be, murders and save her relative from a poisonous fate.
Initial thoughts and feelings
I’m a big fan of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and Adalyn Grace has taken the best parts of Gothic fiction and kept them exactly as they ought to be. The outcast and the challenge that comes with this position, a gothic house equipped with secret passageways and hidden doors, melodramatic weather (rain rapping at the windows, perpetual mist, an element of never truly knowing what’s beyond your line of vision) and of course, an atmosphere of terror, suspense and secrets. All of this set against Victorian England, potentially the gloomiest of all time periods and places, immediately appealed to every cell in my body. I was hooked.
However, it’s all very well and good to include these tropes in a book, but futile if you do not have the narrative capability to pull them all together. Fairplay to Grace, she certainly does. If there’s one word to describe Belladonna it is ATMOSPHERIC. There was never a moment where I didn’t feel the panic of the characters or that I couldn’t visualise exactly what was happening within Grove’s grounds. That I didn’t have the feeling that there was a ghost looking over my shoulder, a cold chill running through me. There was no point where it felt like Grace had lost control of the narrative or setting, that it was now leading her wherever it pleased to go, rather than her firmly taking the reins. This can be difficult to achieve with Gothic fiction as there is so much going on at all times. With many themes, tropes and characters to juggle, the reader can get halfway through a book and think “wtf is actually happening right now?” – the storyline is lost for the sake of ~vibes~. I never felt that way here. The vibes were apparent, but they only enhanced, never hindered.
Is Belladonna a romance book?
The main plot of Belladonna involves Signa Farrow trying to solve the murder of the Hawthorne’s matriarch and the oncoming murder of another member of the family. It’s a classic way to centralise Gothic fiction; It would be difficult to paint a lovey-dovey romance in such a dark environment. That being said, Grace weaves a romance within the subplot. Death has been intrigued by Signa since she was a baby – fair enough as she’s the girl who can’t die. However, Signa hates Death and all he has taken from her. Ideally, she wants nothing to do with him, but, he’s pretty useful when it comes to solving murder mysteries. Their relationship begins to blossom and there came a point in the book where I thought “Am I supposed to be getting sexual tension vibes here? Or am I fucked up?” Reader: I was supposed to be getting the vibes!!
Note: I’ve read quite a few reviews in preparation for writing this and a lot of people said that they were DISGUSTED when they read this book because oh my god, Death fell in love with Signa as a baby!!?! Signa was groomed! This is (at least, the way I read it) very much not the case. Death had an interest in her the same as scientists take an interest in whatever specimen is under their microscope. He’s also like, really bored in his immortality, so of course he’s going to be interested in an enigma who can help pass the time. For me, this distinction felt very clear. It’s only once Signa is an adult that both characters seem like they are both feeling ~it~.
Is Belladonna spicy?
Belladonna is a young adult/new adult book so there is very LIGHT spice so don’t go into this expecting A Court of Silver Flames level of heat. You will be disappointed.
Belladonna Age Rating
14 for a mature reader but definitely aged 15 years and up IMO.
Is there going to be a second book?
Yes!! The next book, which is already out, is called Foxglove. From my understanding, it’s another murder mystery but includes more ‘other-worldly’ characters.
Is Belladonna worth reading?
This book is so, so compelling. Truly a book where I just had to keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. All of the characters were well-developed so I never felt like “And who are you again?” whilst I was reading. That being said, this is definitely not a character-driven book. The plot guides each figure to new clues and understandings, forcing many of them into maturity as it goes. If you prefer a book that is primarily lead by its characters, this is unlikely to float your boat. However, if you like witty banter, strong female leads, themes of grief and endurance, and unexpected plot-twists, Belladonna is a strong contender for your next read.
