‘Belladonna’ is the type of book that we both love in YA - romantic, Gothicky, high-stakes and the potential for some serious drama. Sign. Us. Up.

Add in dark academia? What more could we want.

For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars . . .

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her wellbeing - and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.

Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family's waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother's restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

Signa's best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he's made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful - and more irresistible - than she ever dared imagine.

From New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace, Belladonna brings to life a highly romantic, gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

This is basically guaranteed to be a really fun read, but can it give us the dark academia vibes that we’re after too?

In this episode we discuss:

• The “crossover” effect and the pros and cons of choosing an age category

• All of the plot twists!

• The personification of Death and the lusting over a concept made real

• ‘Belladonna’ by Adalyn Grace

• ‘Red Rising’ by Pierce Brown

• ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ by Lemony Snicket

• ‘Gothikana’ by RuNyx

• ‘Ice Planet Barbarians’ by Ruby Dixon

• ‘Girl, Goddess, Queen’ by Bea Fitzgerald

• ‘Bridgerton’ (2020-)

• ‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000-07)

• ‘Labyrinth’ (1986)

• Hades and Persephone

If you fancy taking a chance on ‘Belladonna’, we’d love it if you considered using our bookshop.org link below to purchase your copy of the book which helps us fund ‘The Dark Academicals’ and gives back to independent bookshops at no extra cost to you.

You can also sign up to The Dark Academicals Book Club mailer for exclusive book club content, extra episodes and author interviews!