The Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace
SYNOPSIS
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 sufers 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.
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This romantic and mystical tale showcased not only the necessity of death in life but also the determination to hold onto those that we love.
Signa, a girl who has been plagued by Death since birth makes it her goal to defeat him once and for all when she lands at her final foster families estate. Death has been alone for a millenia, and in Signa, he finally meets someone who has the potential to be his equal, he will do anything to keep her in his life.
The story starts just as it ends, at a party. Signa is a baby of the beloved and influential family of Foxglove. But as she is presented, everyone at the party is poisoned. When death comes for everyone, there’s one little soul he can’t seem to collect. Instead, when he sees baby Signa, he doesn’t see her death, he sees her future… As an adult, Signa has grown up being passed from foster parent to foster parent, each one cruel in their own way, each one ending up mysteriously dead. She sees Death as her enemy, especially since, though she can try, she herself can’t seem to die. As she’s sent to live with her last remaining family at Thorn Grove, she sets out to vanquish Death once and for all. The only problem is, his presence is more powerful than ever due to the recent tragedy the family faced, and another member on their way to meeting him as well. Signa must race against the clock to find a way to save her cousin Blythe, and solve her aunt’s murder before it’s too late and Death comes yet again for someone she loves.
Signa is headstrong and reckless but loves with a fierce loyalty. Her character will do whatever it takes to get what she wants, even if it puts her in harms way. Never one to fit in with high society but wanting more than anything to find a place of belonging, once she finds it she will not let it go. She gives Death a run for his money with her willfulness and refusal to listen, breaking all of his own rules on her way to saving everything she holds dear. Yet as wild and headstrong as she can be, she’s also soft. She’s a girl who has longed for nothing more than belonging. Wanting to attend parties and wear elegant gowns and be “normal”. She is the epitome of femininity and bravery. No wonder Death can’t seem to stay away.
Death himself is not as he seems. An evil that has plagued Signa since birth? Or an unfortunate immortal doomed to loneliness, only getting to interact with the living when he has to take their lives from them? Signa is the first person who can see and interact with him without being literally at his door (Death’s door, get it?). He’s fascinated by her and a little bit in love and relishes her “competition” with him. As much as people fear him, he’s as kind as he is dangerous and endlessly empathetic. You’d have to be to help everyone on earth gently cross over to the other side. The side that Signa doesn’t see is that he is a caretaker. And as we get to know him, we realize just how necessary and natural death is and that, in some situations, to those suffering and in immense pain, meeting him is the equivalent of peace and relief.
As we move further into the series, we get to know Blythe better as well. She is Signa’s opposite in every way. She loathes high society and loves not fitting in. She’s been groomed as a wife her entire life and refuses to conform and, although she can play the part of delicate lady, she is anything but. Having lived so close to Death for so long, she wants nothing more than to live… ironic that Fate should step in the way.
As Fate enters their lives, Signa, Blythe, and Death are rocked to their core. Fate can do whatever he wishes. He has complete control, and he wants Signa. As he interferes with Signa’s life and newly threatens the family she’s grown to love more than life itself, a murder occurs. Once again, Signa is thrown into the role of detective to save all that she holds dear, except this time, the stakes seem even higher.
Belladonna and Foxglove were magnificent stories featuring murder, mystery, immortality, and folklore. It’s a dark fairytale come to life in such an exciting way. All the characters were loveable and relatable. They were complex and, as their relationships evolved, we evolved with them. As we watch them deal with themes of death, love, and what it means to truly live we see such a depth and humanity that the come alive right off the page.
Much of the story takes place in a world similar to what I would call the English countryside. Foxglove itself reminded me of Cornwall in its description. The forests at Thorn Grove and the seaside setting at Foxglove added a mysterious depth that was the perfect setting for our murder mystery plot. The darkness of the forest, the mists off the ocean, the ethereal setting where ghosts and other things lurked in the shadows while beautiful, was also haunting.
I absolutely loved these stories and I cannot wait until the conclusion Wisteria comes out next year! I gave both of these books 5 stars as I couldn’t get enough of Signa and Death and Blythe. And I can’t wait to learn more about Fate and any potential new immortals as we continue on into the series. I highly recommend this book. It’s suitable for both spooky season AND Christmas season as the atmosphere fits both oh so well. Run, don’t walk, to read this one.