Foxglove

• Author: Adalyn Grace
• Genre: YA Fantasy
• Publication Date: August 22, 2023
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Series: Belladonna #2

Thank you to YA Books Central and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can find my YA Books Central review here.

CONTENT WARNING: murder, blood, grief, gore

It’s said that foxglove is most lethal just before the seeds ripen…

A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous palace nearby. He’s hell-bent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from wrongful imprisonment if the girls will entertain Fate’s presence. But the more time they spend with him, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide whom they can trust as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Daring, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Death and Signa’s story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.

First of all, I have to say that this book is just visually stunning. The cover is eye-catching, but I always take the dust jacket off when I read. Underneath, the cover itself is beautifully designed, and the endplates are gorgeous as well. I was thrilled to read this, especially after having completed a reread to refresh myself on the details of the complex previous story.

This is an exciting and fast-paced story. It picks up shortly after the last book, with Signa living with her remaining family at Thorn Grove. She feels very strongly tied to them, since they welcomed her warmly and have been her only link to family since she was young, and she has become very close with her cousin Blythe. 

The relationship between Signa and Blythe was an interesting one, and they seem more like sisters than cousins in some ways, perhaps because they live together and are so close. I like that we get to see both of their perspectives in the story, especially as time runs short and their storylines diverge a bit. Signa grows in this story by learning to become more independent, whereas she’s always relied on others, while Blythe learns to speak up for herself and discovers how strong she truly is. Juxtaposed with the supportive sisterly bond that Signa and Blythe have, is the antagonistic brotherly relationship that Fate and Death have.

Overall, this read was outstanding. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and Fate’s character was completely unpredictable, making the read that much more enjoyable. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next, and loved the lush, vivid world built by Grace. It brings to mind a place full of magic and romance, where anything could happen, the women wear stunning gowns and attend balls, and danger lurks behind the glittering façade. While it skirts the line between YA and NA, there is some sexual content and some content that fits more firmly into the NA category (although I can’t talk about what it is without it being a spoiler). Other than that, it is even better than the first book, and it leaves me more than ready for the final book in the trilogy to find out how this ends.

People who have sat around with me while I’m reading, especially when there’s a surprising reveal, a shocking plot twist, or an unexpected event often look up in alarm when I gasp audibly. The gasp factor is directly related to the number of times I audibly gasp during a reading, and there isn’t an upper limit.

Gasp Factor: 13