Belladonna

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each 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 suffers 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.

I really enjoyed Adalyn Grace’s All The Stars and Teeth, and when I heard about this book I was immediately intrigued. It sounded like a gothic tale with an infusion of magic, and I took advantage of a sale to snag a copy of the hardcover.

I really enjoyed this! It didn’t take long for the story to get moving and once Signa was at the Thorn Grove, I liked the mystery that crept into the story. And the romance between Signa and Death was so intriguing, as well as her relationship with the Hawthornes and Sylas. But the pacing felt really off and it felt like everything ground to a halt past the halfway point as Signa’s efforts to fit in with high society took priority over what I thought were the more interesting storylines.

I was pretty sure I would rate the book 3.5 stars out of 5, but those last couple of chapters bumped it up to a 4 star rating! I cannot wait to read the sequel!