Belladonna by Adalyn Grace (audiobook)

Pages: 416 

Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton 

Released: 30th of August 2022

For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars...

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.

Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, 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. 

What I Have to Say 

I loved this book and I also didn't. I loved the writing and the atmosphere and the romance between Signa and Death, but other parts of the book weren't so good for me. I would have liked it to be more of a mystery: with clues and investigation, but it wasn't. It felt like Signa spent most of the book trying to fend off the effects of the belladonna and save her cousin and then when she actually bothered to look for the killer it all just sort of fell into her lap. 

There were also certain things that were revealed a bit too late, leaving me floundering to match everything up in my head, because Signa had come to realise stuff that wasn't told to the reader until much later. The biggest thing about this was to do with Margery, though I won't say much more because of spoilers. 

But oh the romance. Death was such a great character and Signa worked so well with him! The narration was just spot on with his voice which added to this. And with that ending I'm definitely going to read on to the next book! 

(3.5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this copy for review. 

Darkmere by Helen Maslin

Synopsis (From Goodreads) 

Pages: 368

Publisher: Chicken House

Released: 6th August 2015

A castle. A curse. A dangerous summer. Leo has invited Kate and a few friends to spend the summer at his inheritance, Darkmere Castle: as wild and remote as it is beautiful. Kate thinks it will be the perfect place for her and Leo to get together - but instead, she's drawn into the dark story of a young nineteenth-century bride who haunts the tunnels and towers of the house. And whose curse now hangs over them all. 

What I Have to Say 

I love the combinations of this book, the teenagers going to stay in the castle (well technically not a castle) for a fun holiday, the creepy dark nights and the story of Eleanor, the original mistress of Darkmere interwoven throughout the story. 

A lot of my favourite parts were the ones with Eleanor. I like that period of history and the female side of things a lot, I mean who doesn't like a period drama? Also the relationship between Eleanor and St. Cloud was really interesting and had a wonderful Brontë-esque feel to it. 

I also loved the way it could transition so quickly between the fun, happy teenagers-on-the-beach scenes into the creepy haunted castle scenes.  It always felt very smooth even though they are such different types of scenes and atmosphere. 

This is an essential book for people who like dark, creepy gothic books.