Belladonna, the newest novel from Adalyn Grace, arrives just in time for your autumn reading. The Gothic-infused story is rich in detail, mystery, and unexpected romance, chronicling as Signa, a 19-year-old with an unexpected connection to the afterlife, arrives at a wealthy family estate.
It’s the kind of tale that grips you, immersing you fully in its Victorian era backdrop. Grace tells Teen Vogue that the idea for the story first came to her nearly a decade ago, but it was only when starting on the prologue that her vision came together.
“I saw a scene in my head that ultimately became the prologue of the book—Death sweeping through a beautiful ballroom to reap every soul except for that of a small child’s—and I wrote it right away without any consideration of what came next. I knew that this child could see the dead, but I didn’t know why or necessarily who she was,” she said.
That child would become Signa, and to fully set her ‘Belladonna’ stage, Grace turned to “classic Gothic novels” including Jane Eyre and Rebecca, as well as the “sparkle and glamor” associated with Bridgerton. “I wanted it to feel like some of my favorite movies—a little Sweeney Todd, a touch Anna Karenina a dash of Pride and Prejudice. . . I adore time pieces and wanted Belladonna to feel as glittering as it feels eerie,” Grace explains.
Journey of self-discovery
Those inspirations fit perfectly in Grace’s story, which centers on Signa’s ability to see and communicate with spirits, including Death himself. “Signa’s journey is one of self-discovery, and growing comfortable in her own skin,” Grace says. “While this book may be set in the 1800s, many of the internal struggles she’s dealing with are very much things that women go through now. Writing her character was extremely cathartic, and I definitely have a soft spot for her.”
The formation of Signa’s character is especially apparent when she communicates with Death.
The ever-present spirit isn’t quite as scary as you’d expect. Rather, Grace captures the “universal” experience of death, creating a personified version of the unknown. “As a character, Death is a man who is destined to watch everyone around him grow older and die.
His is the final face that anyone ever sees, and he bears the burden of so many people fearing and hating him.
While he has no bad will toward who he is or toward his job, such a life has left him very lonely. So when he meets a girl [Signa] who cannot die—one that he can touch without killing—he is undoubtedly curious and makes the decision to insert himself into her life to figure out who she is.”
Perfect example
Unfortunately, Signa isn’t exactly welcoming of Death’s continued presence, and in the exclusive excerpt below, you get to see some of that annoyance first-hand. As Grace explains, “This scene takes place early in the book’s second act, and is the perfect example of Death inserting himself into Signa’s life when she’d rather him be literally anywhere else.
Settled into her new home, Signa is finally getting to meet some other ladies for tea. While she wants to make a good impression, she finds herself distracted when Death appears and inserts himself into the conversation.”
Read an excerpt from Belladonna below. The book is out August 30 on Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
‘A Lady’s Guide to Beauty and Etiquette’ was very clear about gossip: Do not speak idly. Signa agreed, not caring to gossip about those who had shown her such grace. But Eliza’s eyes were lit with mirth and her tongue was ready to seep poison, and so to get the information she sought, Signa took the bait. She reached for a blueberry scone and leaned forward with a quiet intake of breath.
“Rumors?” she asked in a tone that conveyed she’d never once imagined such a heinous thing to be possible. “Surely, you’re mistaken? What sort of rumors are they?”
“All sorts,” Diana chimed in. “That ghosts haunt Thorn Grove. That perhaps Missus Hawthorne—poor thing—took it upon herself to end her life after discovering her husband had had a series of torrid affairs and too many illegitimate children to care for. They even say the help is in cahoots to rally against the family.”
Puzzle pieces
The allegations seemed to be all hearsay, though Signa tucked the information away as more puzzle pieces to be sifted through at another time. “The Hawthornes are curious people,” Signa said, choosing her words with care; she had no assurance that whatever she said wouldn’t leave this table or that she wouldn’t be branded a gossip. “But they’re also very generous to welcome me into their home when they’ve suffered such a great loss.”
Diana made a noise in the back of her throat. “I’m sure your fortune helped with that.” She leaned back in her seat and examined her frilly white gloves. “My father says Mr. Hawthorne’s business is failing and that you’re to inherit a fortune grander than even theirs.”