Meredith Williams
Arts and Entertainment Editor
If you’re in the mood for a slightly clichéd and maybe cringy romantic fantasy story that will satisfy your inner Wattpad lover, then Foxglove is the perfect book for you. It’s Adalyn Grace’s sequel to Belladonna, the first book of her planned trilogy. Stephanie Garber, a New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy author, describes Foxglove as “A deliciously deadly Gothic romance. Full of poisonous deeds, spectacular secrets, and dark mysteries.”
To fully understand what I’ll be referencing later on, let me share the synopsis on the inside cover of Foxglove. Grace’s summary goes like this: “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.”
Foxglove picks up right after Belladonna ends, so while many characters have already been introduced along with their relationships, another murder happens during a ball, introducing new tension to the plot. This time, Fate—Death’s brother—is involved in a grand scheme that frames Elijah Hawthorne, Signa’s uncle. This creates problems for Signa and damages Blythe Hawthorne’s reputation. To free Elijah from prison, Signa and Blythe take it upon themselves to solve the mysterious poisoning. However, Fate is determined to meddle in their investigation and make things difficult for Signa.
The start of Foxglove definitely hints at a “love triangle.” Fate believes that Signa is his lost love, and he wants to break Death’s hold on her to claim her as his own. The problem is that Signa doesn’t remember anything about being Fate’s lover and is committed to her relationship with Death. On top of that, everything Fate does hinders Signa’s progress in harnessing her powers, which become increasingly dangerous the more she uses them. With the added mystery surrounding Death, the risks of exposing herself, and questions about Percy Hawthorne’s disappearance, Signa has her work cut out for her.
There were definitely some highlights, and I found myself entertained during parts of the beginning and middle of the book. The petty croquet scene was a blast to read, and I’m excited to see more interaction between Death and Fate. The writing was beautiful as always, and I could easily fill an entire page with quotes from this book. The last third of Foxglove completely shattered my previous complaints because I laughed so much at how everything turned out—I can’t even comprehend how crazy it was. I’m eagerly looking forward to diving into Wisteria, the last book in the trilogy especially considering what awaits Blythe and Fate in the next installment.
So, overall, I give Foxglove a solid 4 out of 5 stars. While I personally enjoyed Belladonna more, Foxglove served as a good bridge book with intriguing character developments and thrilling plot twists.