Belladonna is the story of Signa, an orphan who is set to inherit wealth when she comes of age. When her current guardian suffers an unfortunate fate, she is placed into the care of a new guardian. Yet unbeknownst to them, Signa can see Death himself. And Death has an interest in Signa. For she has a secret…she cannot die.

Belladonna was an enjoyable and fantasy-filled read. My favorite part was the stunning descriptions and attention paid to the sensory details. The setting and aesthetic felt perfect. However, at times there is a focus on over-elaboration of plot points that seems to show a lack of trust in readers to come to the conclusions on their own. Signa must go over the same idea multiple times before the plot can progress, leading to awkward pacing.

Signa herself has so much potential, but she felt underwhelming to me. For example, Signa spends a great deal of time obsessed with the “proper” way to do things, despite living an unconventional life with magical powers. I can appreciate that this is a way to show character growth, but it felt tedious at times. As the characters resolve the mystery, the pacing of the conclusion seemed rushed, although I did think the answer to the mystery was satisfying.

I love the idea behind this book and am curious to see if the story continues! I think Grace has left the door open for a continuation of the series. Grace imparts several poignant lessons through Signa which deal with grief, confidence, and knowing your own power. I would recommend Belladonna to those who enjoy a murder mystery, fantasy aesthetics, and writing filled with beautiful details. Thank you to Adalyn Grace, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.