From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Belladonna (Belladonna, #1)

Adalyn Grace

Start date: September 1, 2023

Finish date: September 30, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Oct 01, 2024 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-physical, fantasy, fairyloot

Belladonna Review on K-Books

Belladonna has been on my radar since is first came out a couple of years ago. I got this book in my Fairyloot box back then, but it just sat unread on my shelves until it was selected as the monthly read for my book club. I am so glad that I finally picked this one up as I really enjoyed it. It’s spooky, creepy and very atmospheric. I really enjoyed the fact that this book was more of a fantasy murder mystery than romance… and while I wasn’t expecting that as it was ...more

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Aug 08, 2022 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: ghostly-spirits, signed-copies, read-in-2022, books-i-own, cover-love, read-in-2024, arc, who-to-trust, paranormal-supernatural, young-adult

I was so happy when I snagged an ARC of this book at Comic Con. This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!

Signa's life has been filled with tragedy. Her parents were murdered when she was an infant and since then she's been shuffled from family member to family member - each one dying in her presence. On top of this, she can see Death and over time, Signa begins to feel like she's the one responsible for all the death in her life.

First I want to talk a I was so happy when I snagged an ARC of this book at Comic Con. This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!

Signa's life has been filled with tragedy. Her parents were murdered when she was an infant and since then she's been shuffled from family member to family member - each one dying in her presence. On top of this, she can see Death and over time, Signa begins to feel like she's the one responsible for all the death in her life.

First I want to talk about the setting of this book. The gothic vibes were strong in this one and I loved it. I only wish I had read it curled up with a blanket next to a fire (blast you 100 degree heat!). The mansions described were haunting and full of secrets just waiting to be exposed. And let's not forget the locked secret garden - need I say more?

And the mystery that Signa finds herself involved in the minute she gets to Thorn Grove was so fun to untangle. Wife poisoned, daughter suffering the same fate as the mother. A whodunit at it's finest with suspects everywhere and all these clues that added up to nothing. While the family was an odd one, I found myself wanting them to be okay because Signa so badly wanted to stay there. She wanted a family. With everything that had happened to her, her outlook shouldn't have been so sunny but Grace did a fantastic job of showing her grief and loneliness but then also how she pushed through and refused to let it define her.

But can we talk about the character of Death? Death, in any iteration, is utterly fascinating. I was excited to see how Grace would portray him. Oh he was delightful! Such an ominous presence throughout the book, but yet, I found myself looking for him in certain situations. And the twist with him -- ooh I should have seen it coming but I think I was so wrapped up in the moment that I just allowed myself to be taken on this ride.

I will warn you, this book ends on a cliffhanger. But I am so excited to see where this goes. I have all of these scenarios in my head and Grace will probably go the opposite way. Why do books take so long to come out?? LOL ...more

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Sep 09, 2022 Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos) rated it it was amazing

This was the first book I read by Adalyn Grace and it won't be my last, I will definitely pick up her other series very soon. I fell in love with Signa and Death right away and their banter. I love a book with good banter. This wasn’t instant love and wasn’t a slow burn to me. I think the speed they developed the relationship was perfect, it also showed Signa’s apprehension with it. It was the cover and synopsis that drew me in, and this book didn’t disappoint me. The murder mystery had me hooke ...more

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May 24, 2025 Susan rated it it was amazing

I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book. I like that it had some mystery with fantasy and it had romance. Three of my favorite genres in one book, you can't go wrong with that genre blend :)

I love the magic that Signa had. She could detect poisons and they wouldn't kill her. She went to live with her family after an awful aunt died. Signa had this knack for calling Death to her. I loved the character Death. He was bad but yet he wasn't. He had to come take people but he tried to h ...more

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Dec 22, 2023 Emejota rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2023

4.25⭐️

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Jun 08, 2024 Shelley rated it really liked it

I am not sure where to put this book other than it was really good. There is a lot of mystery but also the fantastical idea of a girl who is on a first name basis with Death. As an orphan, she is passed through many different relatives who are essentially taking her in so they can use part of her inheritance until she becomes of age. But each person she stays with ends up dying, and she has had enough of Death and wants him to come out and face her.

When she goes to stay with an uncle (I believe ...more

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