The Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA stories. In the second book, Foxglove, Grace crafts a compelling romance and keeps the stakes rising with a new mystery that makes this story even stronger than the first.
Foxglove picks back up on a scene in progress: a duke has been murdered, and the blame quickly falls to Signa’s uncle, thanks to Fate, a new supernatural entity who has just entered the game. With all of Thorngrove Manor now in chaos, Signa and Death team up again to find the real murderer and clear her uncle’s name. But Fate believes Signa is a connection from his past, and he will pull whatever threads he can to ensure she ends up by his side. As Signa tries to navigate her abilities and save her family, cousin Blythe is becoming increasingly suspicious of her odd behavior. The love and friendship between these two women will be tested as they become entangled with Death and Fate in an attempt to repair the Thorngrove name and their broken hearts along the way.
The character development really takes off in book two, which both impressed me and made me love the series even more. Grace raises the stakes by introducing a new mystery and a powerful wild-card, Fate, and the characters rise to the occasion to match the story’s evolution. In Foxglove, Blythe gets a POV alongside Signa’s, giving her more time to shine and making the series even stronger in my opinion. The points of tension between Signa, Blythe, Death, and Fate are so high, and the characters surprised me in the ways they managed the strain and hard truths between them. Grace never asks the reader to make big leaps or deal with over-the-top actions. Even in a supernatural fantasy story, the characters’ responses are believable, and it makes them feel genuine even when dealing with the unknowable.
The story revolves around two young women who are constrained by rigid Victorian standards, but it gives them agency, even when they are not supposed to have power or meaningful influence. Foxglove doesn’t fall into cringey “I’m not like other girls” territory or showcase the women totally bucking the system either. Signa and Blythe are held to the same standards, whether it be protocols on courtship, social gatherings, or general feminine decorum. Yet they both find unique ways to operate within the rigid system without causing a scandal. Signa does come off as a little odd and eclectic in proper society, and Blythe is pretty bullheaded and determined. But it was fun to see how much these two women could take control when the world gives them so little to begin with.
Anyone familiar with my reviews knows that I struggle with YA and romantasy because oftentimes the stories rely heavily on smut or terribly cookie-cutter, protective alpha men to make the story romantic. In Foxglove, Grace says, “No, thank you,” and builds a romantic story with substance. We see the unconditional love that has grown between Signa and Death, not through physical scenes, but in all the small ways they trust and show up for one another. Death as a love interest is so refreshing in this series. And I especially love how Death handles Fate’s delusions toward Signa. Death possesses a steady protectiveness, but it never interferes with Signa’s agency, and he always meets her decisions with such tender understanding that it makes me melt.
My tolerance for YA and romantasy poison was wasted here. Foxglove is a fantastic story that creates character tension and strains the bonds established in book one. It is a strong sequel and with the reveals at the end, I’m dying to dose myself again with book three to see where it ends up.
Rating: Foxglove – 8.5/10
-Brandee
