Belladonna
Orphaned Signa Farrow is sent to live with her estranged, wealthy family at the eerie Thorn Grove estate. But when her guardian dies under suspicious circumstances, Signa finds herself entangled in a dangerous mystery. She must uncover the truth before she becomes the next victim, all while navigating a complicated attraction to Death himself.
The personification of Death, who has watched over Signa her whole life and becomes both her ally and forbidden romantic interest as she investigates a murder at Thorn Grove.
Signa's cousin, who works to hold together the Hawthorne family's declining reputation after his mother's death.
Signa's cousin, suffering from the same mysterious wasting illness that killed her mother, Lillian.
A stable hand at Thorn Grove who helps Signa investigate the estate's secrets and hidden passages.
Belladonna concludes with a significant unresolved plot point, indicating that the story continues in a subsequent book. Readers should expect to need to read the next installment for full resolution.
Belladonna is the first book in a planned series, introducing a world and characters that are further explored in subsequent volumes. It sets up a larger narrative arc.
Belladonna marks a shift for Adalyn Grace into a more gothic and romantically charged fantasy, differing from the more traditional high fantasy elements found in her previous duology. It explores darker themes and a distinct atmospheric tone.
Belladonna was a finalist for the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy, though it did not win (the award went to Gallant by V.E. Schwab).