I enjoyed this book from the moment that I started reading and could not stop will the last page was read. It moved along at a great pace, has interesting characters that you will love and a story that keeps you reading and needing more. This book needs to be on your TBR list, there is no doubt about it.

"You're a surprisingly slow learner, Andromeda."

"Quick learner," I said, my mind too tired to keep an annoyed bite from peeking through. "Slow follower."

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Within these Wicked Walls is THE PERFECT read for spooky season. Andromeda is a debtera, an Ethiopian exorcist, who is desperately trying to earn a patronage so that she can continue working. She leaves her mentor and life in the town's church to take on an impossible job. Magnus Rochester's house is cursed by the Evil Eye which manifests in all sorts of spooky, hair-raising ghosts and demons. Rooms fill with blood, residents go missing and turn up dead and a terrifying hyena stalks the castle. In order to banish them she must create an amulet to diffuse each one and clean the house of all evil. When she realizes that a lot of the curse resides with Magnus, the owner of the home, who she is inexplicably drawn to, things become complicated.

The imagery in this novel was so immersive, I love a horror novel where you can see the evil in your own mind. I loved the description of the making of the amulets and how Andromeda saw the way to banish each baddie in her mind. I actually wanted more of that... hoping that the print version has some drawings! The main love story part was my least favorite part, it was a bit too contrived and it turned Andromeda from a shrewd exorcist into a bit of a simpering fool at times. But I did love the secondary love story (no spoilers!). I wanted more backstory for each of the other characters in the house, we got a taste of it but I really wanted more of how they came to be in this strange dwelling. Andromeda was a great strong female heroine who well balanced her youth, her courage and her vulnerability.

This one is perfect for fans of Raybearer or A Song of Wraiths and Ruin.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy. All opinions above are my own.

I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 35%

I really wanted to love this book, but I struggled to read it. I'd force myself to pick it up, but could only read a few more pages before I put it down again.

I think Within These Wicked Walls had a lot of the bare bones of a great story (and not just because it's based on one of my favourite classics, Jane Eyre). You've Andromeda, a traumatised orphan who comes to cleanse Rochester's house of Manifestations of the Evil Eye. And those manifestations are creepy. Rooms filling with blood that make you feel like you're drowning; manifestations in cupboards that look like spiders and whisper all your deepest darkest fears to you.

What I struggled with was the narrative style, the dialogue, and the characters. Andromeda has a way of telling not showing, but at the same time doesn't really give me any information I really want to know. When is this set? Is it set in Ethiopia, or is it set in a fantasy world inspired by Ethiopia? (One throwaway line suggests that it might be a first world setting.)

The dialogue is also quite confusing, especially between Magnus and Andi. They leave conversations half finished, or jump to some other tangent. I literally had no idea what they were talking about half the time.

Which brings me to the characters themselves. Magnus and Andi are all over the place. One minute she's determined to actually do what she was paid for (getting rid of Manifestations), next she's having a flirtatious conversation with Magnus, the next she's angry for no particular reason, and then she's having her hair done. Still, I could accept most of that given Andi's upbringing - being a traumatised and semi-abused orphan who lived in near poverty. Magnus is the one I couldn't stand. He's dismissive, manipulative, and haughty one minute, then he's a pitiful, sad, cursed boy who has next to no real friends the next, then he's a charming rake, before turning into a sulking man-child who is offended by nothing at all. He doesn't even seem worried about the Manifestations and how they affect everyone in his home, not just himself. He wants Andi to just hang out with him. If her job was less important (no offence to governesses), I could forgive his attitude. But people are disappearing and being traumatised! He can have all the friends in the world if Andi fixes his house of horrors.

And somehow, despite continually offending each other, the two are instantly attracted, and it makes absolutely no sense. Magnus may have a personality similar to the original Rochester (although amped up, and with more frequent mood swings), but Andi is nothing like Jane Eyre, and it means that the dynamic doesn't really work. They just clash.

Sadly, Within These Wicked Walls was a miss for me.

Right off the bat, I think the only thing this shares with Jane Eyre is the name and a creepy mansion. The premise of it is so interesting though. Bar the marketing mishap I did enjoy this exorcism story especially for the season. I really enjoyed the writing style because even though this was a complicated story to follow, the style made it easy to follow and had plenty of wit. Andi is forced to be find good paying work when her mentor throws her out. I'm still not sure exactly why but she basically made decision in direct opposition to what his warped intentions were. She ends up at the home of Magnus Rochester who is in dire need of a cleansing. Andi is immediately taken in by Magnus' eccentric, jovial, immature spirit. Magnus is 20 but acts like he's 10 and it adds some levity to the story. He was forced to Ethiopia even though it's not directly said, and he has a small crew of people that live in fear of vanishing from the curse. If Andi is supposed to be Jane, an orphan filled with sadness, she is actually quite optimistic but able to lift curses. I was surprised by her non dreary personality and really enjoyed her journey. There is a romantic journey in this story and even though I wouldn't have picked him for her, it makes sense. This is a great Halloween read that isn't too scary and delivers a great plot.

When Andromeda is asked to come exorcise a local castle of the Evil Eye she had no idea what she was taking on. As a unlicensed debtera Andromeda has been trained by one of the most revered debtera in the land Jember, one of the only debtera who has successfully banished a physical manifestation of the evil eye. While Andromeda is very talented will she have learned enough to be able to help expel all the evil that lives in the caste? Its occupants seem to disappear after making eye contact with the castles quick whited handsome owner Magnus Rocheste. Mangnus who is haunted by more then ghosts longs to end the curse one way or another. Will Andromeda be the key that breaks his curse? Does she have enough talent to take on such a haunted castle? And will love truly find a way?

Overall I liked this book. I will say it was very predictable. I knew early on two of the biggest reveals from the book. However knowing what was going to happen didn't take away from overall enjoyment in reading this book. I enjoyed both Andromeda and Mangnus' quick whit. They were very well written and scenes between them flowed really well. I also loved how Jember was brought more into the story and how his and Andromeda's history was slowly revealed during the book. I feel like her final acceptance of who he was as a person, his ability to show love, and knowing that what he had given her was all he was truly capable of giving shows a lot of character growth on Andromeda's behalf. Defiantly a book that I will be recommending to anyone looking for a semi scary book this spooky season.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

4 1/2 stars...

I really enjoyed this book. It gave an entirely new feeling to the haunted house genre. I guess in this instance, it's more than just the house that's haunted. There's so much more to be dealt with than our main character, Andromeda initially anticipates. To complicate things, Magnus, the owner of the home who is cursed also seems to have feelings for Andi.

Within These Wicked Walls definitely doesn't pull any punches. It's a brutally violent horror tale. Fortunately, it does blend in a several romantic storylines for good balance. It's marketed as a Jane Eyre retelling. That part is a bit of a stretch for me. Yet, I was a completely engrossed in this book and found it to be an absolute page turner. It was a well-done gothic romance with elements of the supernatural that would make even the toughest reader tremble. Lauren Blackwood wrote a creative novel with a flair for detail. There was wit, heartbreak, fear, hope, friendship, love and romance. It was a true gem.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I also had the privilege of listening to and reviewing the audiobook. It was outstanding. The narration lent itself to the storyline and really enriched the novel. I enjoyed everything about it. In particular, the narrator's accent gave more authenticity to the story. I highly recommend the audio version. (5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Nneka Okoye (narrator), and Lauren Blackwood for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Within These Wicked Walls in exchange for an honest review.

The very start of this book has Jane Eyre vibes, though I found this retelling was far more intriguing than the Bronte novel, and I finished this book in nearly a day. The narrator, Nneka Okoye, has the perfect voice and accent for the vibes of this book, and I love the spookier aspect of what is going on in this novel.

Andromeda is living on the streets after being kicked out by her mentor. She was working on her liscense to be a debtera, though did not finish before ending up homeless, but she is still offered a job. A debtera, in Ethiopian culture, is a clergy or religious figure who performs exorcisms. Andromeda needs that job more than anything, so despite not having a liscence, she takes it.

Upon arrival to a vast castle, Andromeda learns there were at least eleven debtera before her who failed to remove the curse of the Evil Eye from the castle, or rather, the man within the castle who has been cursed: Magnus Rochester, the last name mimicking that of the male lead in Jane Eyre. Andromeda soon learns this particular Evil Eye might be more than she anticipated. Even all the talismans she has made in preperation might not work.

Magnus, the rich heir seeking help to remove the curse of the Evil Eye, is rude and demanding of his new hire. If Andromeda is to remain hired..and stay alive, there are a number of rules she must follow in Magnus' domain. When this Evil Eye portrays actual manifestations, Andromeda finds she might be in over her head. How are these so sinister and how are they linked to Magnus? What has he done to be so awfully cursed? Andromeda even notices something a bit off about the household staff. Everything about the situation is beyond abnormal, even for an exorcism. Despite his curse and his manner, Adnromeda can't abandon Magnus like the previous debteras who gave up on the job. Not when her feelings start to intervene!

A great novel full of exciting moments, tension, and romance. I loved looking for comparisons to Jane Eyre while also learning about Ethiopian culture. This is a fast-paced book full of tension and romance, and I also love the fact that it is stand-alone with a rounded ending leaving the reader/listener satisfied. Highly recommend for young adult readers looking for something familiar, yet fresh and different at the same time.

I don't know if it's a retelling of Jane Eyre but I enjoyed it, a good horror/paranormal fiction that kept me hooked.
Good world building and character development, a compelling and entertaining plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Within These Wicked Walls is a perfect choice for a spooky October read. This isn't my typical read, but I really enjoyed it. The descriptions for the hauntings by the Evil Eye were really cool and creepy.

My only complaint about the book is that it seemed as if some of the scenes were a little repetitive. It didn't completely take away from the story, but it didn't add much either. I also didn't feel the connection between Andi and Magnus. Yes, their interactions were sweet, but I didn't feel that click like I would've liked.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this to other readers who enjoy some paranormal reading.

Within These Wicked Walls is a wonderful, modern reimagining of Jane Eyre. It follows Andromeda as she arrives at a new workplace. But, instead of being a governess, she is an unlicensed debtera. It is her responsibility to clean the home of the Evil Eye, and she's determined to prove herself in order to gain patronage and therefore, more work.
While reading this, I could see the inspiration that it pulled from Jane Eyre, but honestly, it stands strong without needing that referencing in it. It's supposed to be an Ethiopian set book. Which, having never read a book of this setting, it felt like a great introduction to the culture and the way the supernatural elements work for it. The main character was strong-willed, determined, but still, a young woman who can't resist falling in love. The main love interest is a rich, slightly older than her man who you can't help but want to smack over the side of the head. Yet, it is easy to see why he is so insanely weird given the fact that he and his home are cursed.
The true highlight of this book is Andromeda and her mentor. It explored why he took her in, trained her, and then the falling out that led to her being an unlicensed debtera. I loved their dynamic most of all.

What a fantastic debut!! This was marketed as an "Ethiopian-inspired fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre." However, I have never read Jane Eyre so I cannot begin to compare the two. What I can tell you is that I loved this book. It had all of my favorite elements! It was creepy, atmospheric, gory and chilling.

Andromeda was raised by a debtera named Jember, who taught her to also be a debtera. Andi, as she is called, is on the outs with Jember and is hired by Magnus to remove the curse of the evil eye from his home. Saba is the mother of Magnus and an interesting character that really brought out the chilling features in the book. In fact, I would say she was my favorite!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the #gifted #arc copy of the book.

Still looking for a spooky read to add to your TBR? Then look no further. This is book's gothic/horror vibes are so on point. It's also a retelling/reimagining of Jane Eyre mixed with Ethiopian lore. It's all fabulous. I loved the creepy atmosphere and the mystery surrounding the occupants of this castle. I also like the relationship between Andromeda and Magnus. I like the banter and humor between them. There's also an interesting magic system. A really enjoyable read perfect for this season.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Within These Wicked Walls is an Ethiopian-inspired retelling of Jane Eyre and the perfect spooky season read. Andromeda is hired by young heir Magnus Rochester to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. Andromeda soon finds this job is like no other and that she may be falling for the mysterious Rochester.

I love any retelling of Jane Eyre and this is such a unique and fun take on the story. It is exciting, fast-paced, and entertaining. Plus it has a great romance at the center of it. This book is best read surrounded by spooky decor and drinking a hot cider. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Retellings have been a VERY tired deal for me so when I discovered this was a retelling I sank down before cracking it open. But as far as retellings go THIS is one to be added to your TBR immediately. I diverse and unique take on the classic Jane Eyre everything about this book, the romance, the mystery, the characters, the setting, make everything about this book stand out against most other retellings I have read in the past. Highly recommended!

Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rorschach reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question.

Well this book was a flop - but I think a lot of that was personal preference.

While I liked Andromeda, she was the only character. Magnus made me so incredible mad that I had to DNF at 40%. I had tried so hard to look past but he had no redeeming qualities and made NO LOGICAL sense. So why was our main character instantly falling in love with him? WHY? The lack logic in this book was enough to make me mutter under my breath every time something happened... I have more to say about these characters but I feel like it's pointless to keep harping on them. Andromeda was fine, Magnus SUCKED, moving on.

The gothic atmosphere was fine. I tend to not enjoy gothic stories where the setting is almost it's own character. The author didn't do a bad job with this, I've just read more affective ones, and it is a personal preference that I don't love Gothic Tales.

And as I don't know the original Jane Eyre story very well (it's been way too long) I'm not comfortable comparing the stories.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very loose retelling of Jane Eyre. I loved the Ethiopian aspect. I'm not a huge Jane Eyre fan but that aspect of the synopsis drew me in. I really enjoyed the relationships in this novel.. especially adopted father/daughter and how it was non-traditional. I am not one for romance so the romance did not do much for me but I did enjoy some of the banter and how it slowly built in time. The beginning of the book was very exciting with lots of action, but it did die down towards the later portion.

If the plotlines had been as interesting as the characters, I would have loved the book. Unfortunately, this just didn't click for me. I was so excited to see this billed as a Jane Eyre retelling, but it doesn't have the compelling story of the original.

"My love may be mad and reckless, [...] but it's real and honest."

I absolutely adored the romance in this book. It's not the kind of romance that's meant to be a good example, because this is not that kind of story. But it's SO compelling.

And as a whole, this was probably the best Jane Eyre retelling I've read, it was so well crafted and engaging, the author recognizably working with the original text but making it their own, and really adding to it.

Overall I found this book to average out to three stars. While I really liked the characters, especially Magnus and Saba, as well as the romance between the main character and Magnus, and how that develops, I found the magic system and general plot to be quite boring. There was nothing super compelling about the set-up that required me to care about anything that happened in the book beyond the romance and relationship building between the characters.

Within These Wicked Walls is pitched as an Ethiopian inspired Jane Eyre retelling. I'm unfamiliar with the Jane Eyre story, so I can't confirm how closely this story aligns with Jane Eyre, BUT it is an excellent story no matter what. The story revolves around a haunted house, exorcisms, and an unlikely romance.

Andromeda is a debtera (exorcist) hired by the rich and mysterious hermit Magnus Rochester to cleanse his home of a curse. A dozen older and more experienced debteras have tried and failed to cleanse the mansion, but Andi is desperate. Quickly she realizes she has bitten off more than she can chew with the sheer amount of work needed, in addition to the moody and entitled employer who she is strangely attracted to.

For a stand alone, this book is plotted and paced really well. Fantasy stand alones can often run into a pacing problem but I felt this book was well balanced with plot & world-building. There is not a lot of explanation around the magic system involving exorcising the Evil Eye, but enough is given to have an understanding of what is happening. There is also a theme of family and second chance love during some background plots.

The slow burn romance had some superb tension and banter, but I wasn't completely sold on the whole thing. Maybe that means I wouldn't love the original Jane Eyre, but it was somehow slow burn but also too fast? Andi did a complete flip flop at one point for no reason but, hey it happens in romances.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**