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Eine Winteridylle mit dunklen Schatten ...
Blythe und Aris sehnen sich nach ruhigen Feiertagen in ihrem Zuhause, dem mysteriösen Herrenhaus Wisteria Gardens, doch eine unheimliche Präsenz macht ihnen einen Strich durch die Rechnung. Rastlose Geister flüstern durch die alten Mauern, und ihre ruhelosen Seelen verbergen ein Geheimnis, das Blythe und Aris in tödliche Gefahr bringen könnte. Gemeinsam mit Signa und dem Tod müssen sie die Vergangenheit enträtseln, bevor das Fest der Liebe zur größten Bedrohung wird. Doch nicht nur die Geister stellen Blythes Herz auf eine harte Probe – auch Aris scheint mehr über die düsteren Vorgänge zu wissen, als er zugibt ...
Adalyn Grace is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, International, and Indiebound bestselling author of Belladonna and the All the Stars and Teeth duology.
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
This was the sweetest, fluffiest, warmest hug ever and I’m so happy the series ended this way. 🥰 Simply splendid!
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Pre-Reading: This Downton Abbey Belladonna Christmas special better be 205 pages of Aris and Blythe bantering happily on their travels together OR SO HELP ME.
What to Expect: ➼ Found Family ➼ Restless Spirits ➼ Mystery ➼ Belladonna Holiday Novella ➼ Gothic Fantasy Romance ➼ Narrated by Kristin Atherton ➼ Third Person POV
I really wish this series was written in First Person POV. It’s so hard for me to immerse myself in this world with the included third person writing style. It was particularly difficult for me with this novella since no one character felt like the true focal point of the story. The perspective jumped around enough to even feel confusing at times, but I mostly stayed on track.
Overall, I think I just didn’t really connect to this book. The plot didn’t really interested me and my focus swam in and out. I honestly wish there had been a little more focus on Blythe & Aris. I might be in the minority on this, but I’m pretty tired of Signa and Death. They’ve had their time to shine and I’d really just like to hear from Blythe from here on out. The book itself is so stunning and was gifted to me by the author/publisher so I was really hoping to love this, but it just didn’t quite hit for me.
Thank you to the author and Little Brown books for the gifted copy.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: A Spooky Holiday book feels right for the end of Fall. And yes, Fall ends with November for me. 😆
౨౿ my thoughts. ⟢ so i shouldn’t have read this… it’s been awhile since i finished the series so i barely remembered the plot or the characters, and i definitely wasn’t invested. i know i liked them, but i didn’t feel any of that anymore, so instead of being excited to see them again i was just… bored. and honestly? kinda annoyed. i didn’t care about the mystery, didn’t care about the spirits, didn’t care about whatever aris was doing with his christmas gifts. and it sucks because i mostly liked the ending of this series. i was happy with how it wrapped up. but this novella made me like these characters less, which is so depressing. yeah. this isn’t canon to me. i’m pretending it doesn’t exist.
౨౿ pre-read. ⟢festive novella from a series i actually liked?? yeah ok i’ll bite.
Holly by Adalyn Grace is the perfect little return to the darkly whimsical world of Belladonna. Cozy, atmospheric, and laced with just the right amount of danger and magic, this novella feels like slipping back into a familiar fairytale—one that knows how to balance tenderness with mystery. Despite its shorter length, it carries so much heart, festive charm, and emotional depth, making it an ideal winter read.
One of the absolute highlights of this novella is the gorgeous illustrations scattered throughout the story. They elevate the reading experience so beautifully, adding an extra layer of magic and mood. Each illustration feels thoughtfully placed, perfectly capturing the gothic elegance, wintery atmosphere, and emotional beats of the story. They truly make Holly feel like a keepsake—something to be treasured just as much for how it looks as for how it reads.
If you loved the Caraval trilogy, you will absolutely adore the Belladonna series—and Holly only reinforces that connection. Just like Spectacular did for Caraval, this Christmas novella mirrors the same enchanting spirit: wintry magic, high emotions, and the importance of family at the center of everything. Both series beautifully highlight the bond between two sisters (or cousins), showing how love, loyalty, and shared history shape the story just as much as the romance and magic do.
There’s something incredibly comforting about how similar these novellas feel across both worlds—it’s like Adalyn Grace has created her own signature holiday magic. Holly is a reminder of why her stories feel so timeless: romantic, eerie, heartfelt, and utterly enchanting. A must-read for fans of Belladonna, Caraval, and anyone who loves a gothic fairytale wrapped in winter magic. ———————— Happy release day to one of my most anticipated reads of this year!
A small part of me hoped that Blythe would to be on this cover. Alas, I’m still looking forward to this! ——————— I'm still on the second book, but boy am I excited for this one to come out!
➳ 4 ☆! 🧣🔔 spoiler free + mini review ⤷ this novella just reminded me why i adored this trilogy so much <3 so worth it!!
⋆˚࿔ 4th review of the year
“It wasn’t until he’d stepped back through the doors of Wisteria Gardens with his wife in hand that his soul felt whole again.”
₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊ 🍂 ⤷ despite this being 370 pgs for a novella, this went by so fast and im surprised w myself for finishing with a day/half. the storyline was interesting but if im being honest i was really just here for the characters hehe, so YES if youve read the og trio you 100% need to try this!! it felt so cozy being back w my fav found family hehe. i know for a fact adalyn is working on a new book but i wonder if she'll ever revisit this world 👀👀 thank you fellow readers for loving the og trio so we could get to this point <3 also great time to read now that the holidays r over!! xoxo
on another note.. can i PLEASE COMMENT ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS?! one of the best ever ive seen in books. 💌
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preview ᝰ.ᐟ🧣🔔
₊‧꒰1.9.26꒱ ‧₊ ⤷ second read of the year lets GO!! so far im loving it, i love holiday novellas, and since holiday season is already over i need to read this asap. i love being back in this world and will always appreciate the world adalyn has created 🥹💗 more thoughts soon!!
Thoughts First off, I'm so happy that this series isn't over and I can't wait for the next one, this definitely put me in my Christmas feels. I love this universe so much, Grace definitely delivered despite this being a novella I didn't think I'd love it this much but it was absolutely beautiful
Plot Summary As the holiday season arrives, Blythe and Aris hope for a quiet, joyful time at Wisteria Gardens. Instead, a host of unsettled spirits begins to stir, threatening to spoil the celebration. Signa, alongside Death, Blythe, and Fate, must unearth the truth behind the manor’s restless ghosts and guide them on their way—before the situation grows far more dire.
“I care not for what comes next, as you have given me more than I ever thought possible. You have given me a life beyond the shadows, Little Bird. And whatever happens from here, I know that we will face it together.”
❄️🎄🐈⬛
this is, by far, the greatest holiday novella i’ve ever read. usually, holiday novellas don’t really have anything at stake. they’re just fluffy, cozy little reads. this novella was fluffy, cozy, AND it had a mystery that needed to be solved! plus, having it taking place in the belladonna world? what more could a person want?
speaking of the belladonna world, i was SO very happy to dive back into it. these books are absolutely everything to me, and i could never grow tired of them. i truly hope that there will be at least one more belladonna book in the future… i mean, with an ending like that, there has to be, right? RIGHT??? there better be! you can’t just leave me hanging like that because that would be cruel…
these characters make me so happy, and the storyline was so fun! the mystery was so creative and unique, i couldn’t help but get lost in it. AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS?? absolutely gorgeous! i need to get my hands on a physical copy of this novella asap!
everyone who loves the belladonna series NEEDS to read this! it will make you so happy, i’m so serious. i will say that even though i was super happy while reading it, i am now so sad that it’s over, so beware! read with caution!
This book was so romantic !! And I loved seeing all the characters together and happy 🥹
The writing is so beautiful and whimsical and sooo easy to get back into ! ⤿ With the new powerless novella, I’m having a hard time getting into the story and back into the series (my slump is partially to blame) but with Holly I binged 50 pages as soon as I opened the book!
Also, although not as elaborate as the other books, the plot was very entertaining. There’s something about ghosts idk 🙂↕️
⋆˙⟡
I know it's a holiday novella (even though it's literally a full length novel) but I really enjoyed this one and I need more of these characters - I love them so much🫂
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ᯓ★ Pre-read I’m so excited to be back in this world !!! 🥹 and the illustrations???? STUNNING
I missed this world and these characters so much 🥹 this novella is the perfect mix of cosy and eery, but in a non scary way hahaha It has the atmosphere of belladonna, which I loved, but a cosier and christmassy. Some scenes were really cute and funny, others were emotional. I’m just so happy for Signa, Sylas, Aris and Blythe 🤍
⋆˙⟡ read from december 26 — december 30 ﴾ 2025 ﴿ ˖᯽
”One would think that being as old as the world itself would somehow make him more assured, but when it came to matters of the heart, his was never quite able to stop its blasted fluttering.”
°❆🎄💝⋆.ೃ࿔🎁*:・:*⋆𐙚❅*°⋆❆. ·꙳⋆𖢔𖠰𖢔·꙳⋆ ೃ࿔*:🩰🎀 ⋆𐙚°⋆❆.ೃ࿔*
—— The Plot ⋆꙳🩰*❆
➵ After many decades, the family is finally back together and all Blythe wants this Christmas is to have a relaxing and memorable time. At least the memorable part rang true.
Blythe’s husband, Aris, and Signa aim to keep Blythe in the dark about the spirits residing in their new home. These ghosts in particular seemed to have died in a fire long ago and were rehearsing for a ballet.
”But very well. You go learn how to get rid of the spirits, and I’ll figure out what to get my wife for Christmas.” “How fair our tasks are,” Signa mused, but gave no other complaint as she hurried off in the opposite direction.”
As Aris seeks for a gift for his wife and Signa works to discover how to help these ghosts pass onto their next lives peacefully… her partner, Death, is off to retrieve a mysterious gift for Christmas.
However, the spirits are becoming more and more unpredictable and just may ruin the Christmas that they all have been anticipating.
—— My Thoughts ⋆꙳🩰*❆
”Blythe frowned at him. “It doesn’t matter if there are plot holes so long as the story is gripping.”
➵ I thought this was so cozy and precious. It was delightful to see everyone together in a more lighthearted state. Holly still maintained the mystery aspect and the odd charm of this series, but in a more spirited away, rather than the gothic vibes that it usually has.
I can see why this might be boring to some, especially since this was more character focused. However, I love the characters so I didn’t mind! ♥️
”This is my tapestry. It belongs to you now, with a thread of red for every day that I have loved you.”
➵ The romance was so sweet and it healed something in my soul to see my loves, Aris and Blythe, reunited and their love flourishing 🪻💞🪡
➵ I can also tell that the author definitely aimed to give this more of a Christmas vibe with the winter ballet details ❄️🩰
➵ I LOVED the art in this book!!!!!!!! Everyone is so handsome and beautiful!!!! I was literally taking pictures of my kindle every single time a photo of everyone popped up. I thought that was a wonderful touch to add to this story! <33
➵ Last but not least… the kitty was my favorite part of this story!!!! (I feel like it’s very important to note 😁)
”I would do it again in a heartbeat, Aris,” she whispered. “Everything we’ve gone through - all of the pain, all of the loneliness - I would do it all a million times more if it meant getting to hold you.”
—— In Conclusion ⋆꙳🩰*❆
➵ This was a lovely Christmas coded novella to conclude my 2025 reading year with 💝
This series is so unique to me and while it was predictable in other ways, the premise has always stuck out to me and probably always will. I adore these characters and how I’ve had the chance to watch them grow and it does my heart good to see them all have the happy endings they deserve 💌❄️💘
°❆🎄💝⋆.ೃ࿔🎁*:・:*⋆𐙚❅*°⋆❆. ·꙳⋆𖢔𖠰𖢔·꙳⋆ ೃ࿔*:🩰🎀 ⋆𐙚⋆❆.ೃ࿔*
”His jawline was squared and more pronounced, his skin a shade darker, and while the changes were just enough to feel jarring, there was enough about Aris that had felt familiar from the moment she’d laid eyes on him. One look and she’d known that the missing piece of her soul had finally made its way home to her.”
”The stars themselves should bow to you,” he whispered against her skin, “for you are the most radiant creature to ever walk this earth.”
”Buffoons,” she repeated under her breath. “I am surrounded by nothing but buffoons. Aris, stop cowering and get over here.” “I am not cowering,” he started, though his mouth snapped shut when she shot him a glare that had him crossing the floor toward her in the next second.”
”Hello there,” he whispered, smiling to himself when the cat chittered in response. He’d always loved animals and the fact that they could see him, though he found cats in particular quite charming. They perpetually behaved as if they knew something no one else did and were entirely uninterested in sharing it.”
”I could spend a million Christmases with you and still it will not be enough,” Aris whispered as he cupped her face in warm, tender hands. Blythe’s heart was in her throat, her body putty between his palms. “Then spend two million with me,” she whispered, to which he smiled. “Two million.” Aris bent to kiss her, and Blythe couldn’t imagine herself ever able to feel happier than she did as he whispered against her skin, “Let’s start there.”
i truly love the belladonna series so much, the concept is so fresh and unique and it’s been such a ride. even though the holidays are over at this point, i didn’t want to wait a full year to finish the series with this little novella and i figured january is close enough to christmas still to count.
the holiday vibes were absolutely perfect in this and exactly what i was hoping for from this short little story, even though it was actually more pages than i was expecting. the illustrations in here were so much fun and it was so sweet to see the characters all back together after the ending of the last book.
i really don’t have much to nit pick here because i was just hoping for a fun time and i definitely got that. however, since the last book in the series was about Blythe & Aris i was hoping for some more scenes with Signa & Sylas. because of the set up for the story though that didn’t really happen until the end, and i was just hoping for more with them. but other than that this was a fun little story and definitely left some questions open for if Adalyn Grace decides to return to this world.
↬ trigger warnings: death and accidental death, burning and fire injury
Belladonna & Foxglove hold special places in my heart. I fell head over heels for Signa and Death’s characters and still love them so much. Signa’s just one of those FMC I can heavily relate to and Death… well, what can I say… he’s just perfect.
« Signa was not someone who needed to fill silence with words. »
I was so happy to go back into this world. I hadn’t liked Wisteria… but this little holiday novella ended the series on an absolute perfect note ❤️
This book was ABSOLUTELY beautiful and everything I needed this month. I may have not been in the “Christmas Mood” this October but, this book has made me very excited for the month of December!!! 🎄🎄🎄. ❄️❄️❄️!!!
On a much more serious note: Adalyn Grace NEEDS to write, at least, one more novel to this series and 2026 NEEDS to be its publication date or I am going to be in a mood (and not a good one). 🤭🤭🤭.
“Nothing you do will ever be too much.”
“It’s only another day.” Sylas told her. “You will find no better or worse luck because of it.”
“You are a blight upon humanity.”
“Gifts are a personal thing, and for those like us, the possibilities are endless. We want for nothing.”
“That cleaver tongue of yours is one of my favorite things about you, Sweetbrier,”
“You, my love, are a fool if you believe that I will ever tire of your magic. Something crafted by your hands is the best gift I could ask for.”
“No one needs perfect, Aris. We only need you.”
“I could spend a million Christmases with you and still it will not be enough,”
“There’s something about this time of year,” she said. “It soften our hearts, and makes the absence of those we miss all the more apparent.”
“At the end of the day, everyone wanted the same thing—for the spirits of this world to feel loved and cared for. For them to be able to move on to a better and happier existence.”
“You,” he announced, “are one of the worst pianists I’ve ever had the misfortune of listening to. I would give up my very magic if you swore to never play again.”
“You are hardly patient.”
“Do you know I love you so much that I hardly know what to do with myself sometimes?”
“I wanted to give you the perfect Christmas.” He held tighter when she tried to pull away, clenching his jaw. “I have never had a proper celebration, Blythe. Not like the kind you deserve. All I wanted was to make it great for you, and for you to not have to worry about something as ridiculous as spirits disturbing our peace. I wanted the holly to matter. For your effort and your hopes to matter.”
“Even all these years later and you’re still a fool,” she told him. All I wanted was you, Aris. A Christmas with you and my family is what makes it perfect.”
“This is my tapestry. It belongs to you now, with a thread of red for every day that I have loved you.”
“Day after day it will grow,” he continued, “for two million Christmases and more, because I will never lose you again, Sweetbrier. Be careful with these threads, for they are fragile right now. But they will continue to grow, and over time they’ll become stronger, as will the love I have for you.”
“Letting you stay quiet would be like letting you get away with something.”
“I didn’t want you waiting that long when it was so cold out. All of this was meant to be my gift to you. A mystery that only you could solve, with people who needed your help.”
“Some people are just so afraid to see what’s right under their noses,”
“If you want someone to see that you’re special, Little Bird, you must prove it to them.”
“The stars themselves should bow to you,” he whispered against her skin, “for you are the most radiant creature to ever walk this earth.”
“I would not trade our life together for anything,”
“I care not for what comes next, as you have given me more than I ever thought possible. You have given me a life beyond the shadows, Little Bird. And whatever happens from here, I know that we will face it together.”
“The night itself folded around them, promising that neither would ever be left to face the world alone again. Promising that, no matter what, they would be together for all eternity.” ~~~~~~~ ***Pre-Read:*** Time to check-in with Signa & Death. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽.
2.75, it makes me sad to rate this so low when I’ve given the rest of the series so much praise, but I just wasn’t very interested in anything that was going on, and I feel like the writing in this one was much more flowery than the other ones to the point it was just bothering me. The only things I enjoyed were:
Blythe and Aris together again- MY LOVES oh i missed them so much ☹️ WHAT DO U MEAN IT’S BEEN 27 YEARS.
Aris’s relationship with Sylas, Elijah, and Signa- he’s changed so much and the development between them all is so heartwarming to see.
THE ILLUSTRATIONSSSS they were the best part 🥹🥹 they were so well drawn and they were so cute especially the ones with Aris and Blythe (aris was looking a little too fine but 🤗)
AND BEASTY AND ARIS god I love me a man who loves cats ———
that... is one ugly cover. im sorry. ------- hi guys 🥰
If you love the Belladonna series, you will enjoy this beautiful Christmas novella. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and it is a cute, fun, festive read. I really enjoyed being back in this world and with these characters.
Seems like the series might not be over either!? ♥
6 stars ╰┈➤ ❝ “I care not for what comes next, as you have given me more than I ever thought possible. You have given me a life beyond the shadows, Little Bird. And whatever happens from here, I know that we will face it together.”
I could spend a million Christmases with you and still it will not be enough
- one of my highest anticipated reads this year, it did NOT dissappoint. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet, it felt like christmas. ------------------------------------------------------- 𐙚˙⋆🎄🧣 ''This is my tapestry. It belongs to you now, with a thread of red for every day that I loved you. Day after day it will grow, for two million Christmases and more, because I will never lose you again, Sweetbrier. Be careful with these threads for they are fragile right now. But they will continue to grow over, and over time they'll become stronger, as will the love I have for you.'' ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ''Did you miss me, Little Bird?'' - p. 293 ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ''Is that you, Little Bird?'' ''Why don't you come and find out?'' - p. 327 ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ''The stars themselves should bow to you, for you are the most radiant creature to ever walk this earth.'' ⋆꙳·❅*🎄‧ ‧*❆ ₊⋆ ⋆꙳·❅*🎄‧ ‧*❆ ₊⋆ ''For your gift this year, I wanted to re-create the night of our first dance'' ''You mean the night you fell in love with me?'' he teased ''That's precisely what I mean.'' ⋆꙳·❅*🎄‧ ‧*❆ ₊⋆ ⋆꙳·❅*🎄‧ ‧*❆ ₊⋆ I loved this book universe so much, i missed it and now I will continue to miss it. Signa and Sylas (death) will always have my heart. Sylas has me giggling and shi, like usual. Aris and Blythe are cuties as well but my main couple will always be Signa and Sylas. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎄✩‧₊“Until the day came when the earth claimed them and they were no longer of this world, Death would love her more than she could ever possibly understand.”
🎄✩‧₊“I would do it again in a heartbeat, Aris,” she whispered. “Everything we’ve gone through—all of the pain, all of the loneliness—I would do it all a million times more if it meant getting to hold you.”
-> I will deff re-read this book during the christmas holidays next year
OCTOBER 7 CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH I NEED TO HAVE THIS AND I NEED TO SEE WHAT IS BOUND TO BE A BEAUTIFUL COVER
"are you free October 7th" NOPE SORRY NOT SORRY ACC
update: 3.21.25 OHMYGOD THE COVER IS FUCKING STUNNING HOLY MOLY. I kind wish it was blythe and signa like both of them but at the same time i DO NOT care
ughhhhh i feel like i would have liked this so so much more, even a 6 star, had i read it during christmas time
this is not a hate review at all. this whole book was absolutely spot on, it was so nice getting to finally see all the characters together, and for christmas of all things. it was absolutely gorgeous.
AND I GOT A B&N EXCLUSIVE EDITION SO THE PAGES WERE SO BEAUTIFUL AND IT HAD ARTWORK THAT WAS SO SO PRETTY.
so yeah i am displaying this book like it’s an ancient artifact because it deserves all that glory
it was such a joy to come back to this world and read about some of my favorite characters enjoying the holiday season and of course, getting up to shenanigans.
I appreciate that although this was a holiday novella, there was a solid plot that was interesting and engaging and helped propel the story forward.
the ending made my heart so happy and reminded me why I enjoyed this series so much!