Belladonna

"Good storyline and characters. Although I felt like it is dragging on and on, it barely got interesting about halfway through. I had a hard time wanting to read more and finish it. Sometimes I felt like just skimming everything and read the last 2 chapters. But I didn't and actually read everything, the twists were somewhat good, the ending felt almost rushed. I don't know if I'll pick up the 2nd book."

"4.5/5 ⭐️ this book was so good!! The setting of this story is beautiful. I really liked the way death was portrayed as a character and as a concept. The twists at the end were a predictable but also exactly what I was hoping would happen. This book has mystery, Bridgerton vibes, magic, and romance. It’s YA but doesn’t feel that way. This book is not spicy but has a couple implied or very non descriptive scenes though. "

"There was a lot to enjoy about this book- Signa's growth as a person who has dreamed her entire life of joining the scene; Signa's experiences as someone who cansee spirits; Signa's loyalty when she joins a family that doesn't only want her money; Signa's relationships with the Hawthorne family and more. The mystery was complex. Although Signa was able to quickly figure out her cousin was being poisoned, finding the culprit and ending the poisoning was not easy. Recommended for people who enjoy a mystery with some paranormal help. Also Recommended for people who like reading about a main character who has problems fitting into a societal mold. I'm definitely reading the next book in the series."

"This was painfully predictable. I don’t understand the hype at all. "

"It looked very promising in the beginning, but I lost interest in the writing because I was halfway into the book and nothing significant happened. A lot of it was descriptions and daily lives activities. The dialogues were also a bit…stilted, as if the author is trying to make the characters seem cool and classy. However, it just came off as unrealistic. I read the plot’s summary, and that was interesting. But, it did not really…captivated me. DNF"

"It's an interesting read! Somehow, I got Hades&Persephone vibes. I liked the ghostly atmosphere, and the mystery behind the murderer was delightful, kept me on my toes the whole time. That being said, the villain didn't seem convincing at all. Their character and motivation explained at the end of the book felt very random and unnatural."

"4.5 ⭐️ I blasted through this book in 2 days. It was so intriguing, I just had to know what was happening and the surprise ending hit the spot. The only thing lacking for me was the reasoning behind the murder/attempted murder. I very much enjoyed the story and the relationship that develops between Signa and Death. I am excited to read Foxglove!"

"I have a lot of mixed feelings on this book.. I gave it three stars because it didn’t hold my interest well. It wasn’t one of those books that I couldn’t put down. I put it down, a lot. It was very slow paced to me and I felt like a lot of the writing was background noise so to speak. I didn’t feel truly engaged until somewhere between chapter 24-26."

"The opening was dark and alluring. I girl who cannot die and death watching over her. I was instantly hooked. I even gasped haha I haven't done that in a while. Perfect for a fall read. The romance reminded me of Labyrinth with the Goblin King. But do be warned the relationship was an extremely slow burn. Usually, I love that but this was over-the-top slow. Still, there was a murder to solve and many mysteries to keep you busy. My biggest criticism would have to be the plot distractions. Not only did it slow down the romance but solving the mystery as well. At one point Signa's cousin is on the verge of dying and instead of going straight home and giving her the remedy she goes out to tea so she doesn't break social etiquette. Sadly the distractions only get worse with book 2. The atmosphere was nice and dark. The time period made it even more entrancing. The mysteries and the romance kept me intrigued but I will say things were predictable at times. The plot was weakened by trivial matters. Like social norms. And that also dragged out the story in the end. -------Quotes-------- "I like animals more than most things. I like that they can see me." "You should be careful what you wish for little bird.""

"So good! Grasps you from the very first words. THE PLOT TWISTS 😤😩 amazing, chef’s kiss. Love the plot, story building, how she describes everything, the 1800s vibe made modern, really looking forward to the sequel!"