This book review post is all about the “Wisteria” by Adalyn Grace.
CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, FANTASY, ROMANCE
ABOUT THE BOOK
TITLE: WISTERIA
SERIES: BELLADONNA (#3)
GENRES: ROMANCE, FANTASY, YOUNG ADULT
publisher: little, brown and company
publishING DATE: AUGUST 3OTH, 2022
PAGE COUNT/length: 409 PAGES / 11h, 55m
FORMAT: HARDcover and audiobook
NARRATION: KRISTIN ATHERTON
SOURCE: SELF-PURCHASED
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My thoughts about wisteria by adalyn grace
The Belladonna series tropes are like catnip for feral romantasy book lovers like me. The previous books gave us gothic castles, magical mystery men, ghosts, whodunit murder mysteries, and steamy, passionate moments.
In Adalyn Grace’s Wisteria, though, we get something extra—my favorite romantasy trope of all: enemies to lovers. And this author nailed it!
Be sure to check out my previous book reviews of both Belladonna (#1) and Foxglove (#2).
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump these past few months, so it was a pleasure to finally find something that got me excited to read again.
Keep reading to find out why Wisteria by Adalyn Grace is the most addictive fantasy book I’ve read in a while.
A SATISFYING CONCLUSION TO AN ENCHANTING GOTHIC ROMANTASY.
goodreads: wisteria book summary
Blythe Hawthorne has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.
Wisteria by adalyn grace: book review
UNPACKING THE PLOT OF wisteria
The book opens with a flashback to the happier days Life and Fate once shared, back before Fate’s world fell apart. Everything changed when the love of his life embraced Death, leaving Fate—also known as Aris—completely alone.
He’s spent centuries searching for Life’s reincarnation, convinced that Signa is the one he’s been waiting for. But his plan to marry her hits a snag, thanks to her strong-willed cousin, Blythe.
“I detest you and your entire lineage,” he spat. Blythe patted his arm. “That’s the spirit! Be sure to put all that fire into your gameplay.”
Signa and Death (aka Silas) stumble on a disturbing truth: Signa isn’t Life at all—Blythe is. Why they can’t just say this out loud is still a mystery. Aris and Blythe have no clue that they’re, quite literally, soulmates.
On their wedding day, surrounded by friends and family, Aris and Blythe exchange vows. When no one’s listening, though, they also promise to make each other’s lives a living hell.
The hateful banter between them is top-notch! There’s something special about the brand of spite only married couples can muster, and these two serve it up well.
Aris’s outright disgust for Blythe and her chaotic mix of indignation and lust toward her grumpy new husband make for a wild start to their romance. Honestly, the way Aris treats Blythe had me wondering how they’d ever work things out.
“Shall I fetch you a blanket? he asked, smug. “If the house doesn’t want you in it, then perhaps you can make a space for yourself in the stables. A beastly little rat like you should feel at home there.” ― Adalyn Grace, Wisteria
The story hits all the classic enemies-to-lovers beats: one bed trope, mysterious forces pushing them together, and a magnetic pull neither can resist.
There’s also a surprisingly sweet subplot with Blythe’s dad and Aris—despite all his supposed hatred, Aris goes out of his way to impress his new father-in-law.
“Do not make yourself small. Do not change yourself to suit him. Teach him how to treat you, and remember that you deserve everything this life has to offer.”
Also, there’s a scene reminiscent of the scene in Beauty and the Beast when Belle loses it when she sees the library.
It made me both jealous of a fictional character and impressed by Adalyn Grace’s ability to craft such enchanting prose. However, this scene is far steamier than the Disney movie and it definitely isn’t PG-13.
“I have imagined countless ways that I might be rid of you. Countless ways that I might quiet that filthy mouth of yours. Yet since the moment I saw you stalking the halls of my home, I’ve also felt something stirring that I do not understand, but that I’ve not felt in a very long time. And this time I will not run from it.”
But just as things start to get cozy, a new player arrives: Chaos, also known as Solanine. Suddenly, everything—including the fragile connections the characters have built—starts to unravel.
The ending? Total gut-punch. Absolutely tragic (I may have cried), but I do wish it hadn’t wrapped up so abruptly. With the newly announced novella, Holly, maybe we will get the necessary closure.
THE CHARACTERS of wisteria
Signa and Death both appear in the book, but only briefly. Their roles are essentially cameos, and they don’t really impact the main plot. Still, their presence highlights how much Signa has grown.
She’s no longer a shy wallflower trying to disappear—she’s confident and fully in control of her reaper abilities. I found it both funny and fascinating to see her through Blythe’s eyes.
Blythe describes her as strange, sometimes even creepy or otherworldly. She also thinks Death is creepy, which definitely makes sense. I mean…. he is a shadow most of the time.
Aris reminds me a lot of Thor from the first Marvel Thor movie. He’s strikingly handsome (and he knows it), petulant, arrogant, and has a short fuse.
Beneath the sour temper, though, you see just how much he still mourns his wife, even centuries after losing her. That grief makes his grouchiness understandable and highlights his romantic side.
As the story progresses, he redeems himself by showing genuine protectiveness toward Blythe.
“Not everyone gets to grow old. Not everyone gets to love or be loved in return. Sometimes the world is cruel.”
Blythe is clever, witty, blunt, stubborn, and every bit as hot-tempered as her husband. She never holds back, even when she’s well aware her husband is, quite literally, a deity. I get the sense that this both excites and infuriates Aris, and it leads to some truly electric dialogue.
Underneath her tough exterior, she has a heart of gold and shows compassion—even to people who don’t deserve it. The pain of losing her mother and brother is what triggers her powers and sets her on the path to discovering who she really is.
“Burn was too casual a word, for Blythe did not burn for this man; she incinerated.”
THE WRITING STYLE of wisteria
I loved the characters, the tropes, and the plot, but what stood out most was the writing style. The descriptions of the Wisteria gardens and the ever-shifting magical castle were enchanting.
The magic system felt inventive and vivid. On top of that, the poetic prose captured the tangled emotions of love and hate between the two main characters in a way that really pulled me in.
My favorite moments were the library scene and the scenes where Blythe and Signa show off their powers—they’re lush and memorable. I loved every bit of them.
Narration
I found this book so hard to put down that I picked up the audiobook too! That way I could listen while commuting or cleaning.
The narrator, Kristin Atherton, is fantastic. Her acting is top-notch—she changes her voice so skillfully that it feels like you’re listening to a full cast of characters.
is wisteria by adalyn grace spicy?
Most of the novel is PG-13, although it does contain mature themes such as attempted murder, the death of a spouse, and grief.
There are two spicy scenes, one of which includes cunnilingus, so I’d rate this book two chili 🌶️🌶️.
The romance is present as well, but unfortunately, the characters only realize they love each other near the end, so we don’t really get to savor it. I’d also rate the romance two hearts ❤️❤️.
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace is a knockout. It’s a delicious enemies-to-lovers story, and now I’m kicking myself for letting it sit on my shelf for so long.
If I have any complaint, it’s that the ending wasn’t drawn out a bit more—I wanted more time to bask in Aris and Blythe’s hard-won romance. Maybe in the next book, Holly.
Fingers crossed.
Holly is set for release on September, 30th, 2025.
If you’ve been putting off finishing the Belladonna trilogy, stop waiting. If you haven’t started it, now’s the time. It’s fantastic!
Click the links below to grab a copy of Wisteria by Adalyn Grace, and let me know what you think in the comments.
OTHER BOOKS in the series
If you’d like books similar to “Wisteria” by Adalyn Grace check out my book review on 12 SLOW BURN ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER.
Or, check out these book recommendations below.
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