Cast out by Jember, her emotionally distant guardian who has trained her to make amulets that cast cleansing magic but who has refused to provide the certification that would help her gain employment, Andi must find a patron where she can, or starve. Engaged to cleanse the evil that inhabits an entire castle in the middle of the desert, Andi meets charming but socially awkward Magnus with his puzzling, racially diverse cohort of servants, a lawyer, and a fiancé. Racism and colonialism are woven into this Jane Eyre retelling, where the frigid, possessed castle is a terrifying character. EARC from NetGalley.

Really interesting and enjoyable retelling of Jane Eyre. Andi was strong and independent while Magnus was a tad bit dramatic. He got on my nerves from time to time but he redeemed himself at the end along with all the secondary characters. I would enjoy reading more of these fantasy spins on other classic stories from this author!

I love Jane Eyre, so the idea of an African retelling appealed to me. Of course, when a book’s billed as a retelling, you expect some of the core elements of the original to be present, so it’s no surprise Within These Wicked Walls features a young woman who’s essentially orphaned and destitute who takes on an impossible job working for an eccentric rich man. And it’s no surprise they fall in love.

For my part, I found the concept of the debterra and the spooky elements to be incredibly compelling. The magic system was intriguing and there were enough twists and turns along the way to keep me engaged. I tore through this book and enjoyed it all. There was plenty of evocative description throughout, that made you feel the grit of sand in your clothes and see the shadows and blood throughout the cursed house.

I’m sure some readers might not enjoy the speed at which the romance develops. Desperate times prompt strong feelings, but that may not be enough for some people to embrace the idea of the protagonists as a genuine couple.

One thing that really appealed to me was how the author handled the conflict between Andromeda and her female rival. To avoid spoilers, all I’ll say is that it was a refreshing twist and shows you don’t have to take conflict in predictable directions to add tension to a story.

There’s a healthy dose of horror here mixed with paranormal fantasy and romance, and the characters are developed in a compelling way. They aren’t cutouts and distinguish themselves from others with their choices and convictions.

Blackwood isn’t afraid to delve into some tough topics and the relationship between Andromeda and her adoptive father, Jember, is as compelling as her relationship with Magnus. It’s also worth noting that Andromeda’s at an age when it’s common to question your parents, and she’s assessing the beliefs she’s been raised with while coping with a near-impossible task. The conflict between her and Jember adds depth to her character and shows Blackwood’s skill building different types of relationships and character interactions.

There’s a lot here to like and people who love gothic horror with romance will want to check this one out.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

The writing is beautiful. The inspiration behind the story showed through the writing and the atmosphere.

My problems lay within the actual plot and the lack of depth in the characters. I felt like I didn't get to know the characters beyond a few descriptions.

The middle of the story dragged a bit, I found myself putting the book down and reading other novels time and again.

When I finally finished the story, I just felt kinda meh about it.

I'd love to read another book by the author as I did enjoy the writing style.

Andy is desperate to feel loved. But growing up on the streets and being raised to fight murderous evil eyes that plague her client's homes doesn't lend itself for Andy to feel anything but the strength of her own survival habits.
This book is about both familial and romantic love. Each character has a spotlight moment where we can see the depth of their vulnerability... and then the castle fills with blood and everything goes to hell.
I'm usually not one for ghost stories, but WTWW had me on the edge of my seat. The love interest's mental illness was depicted with a beautiful humor that made me really feel for and fall in love with him.
This book made me laugh and cry! Get ready for a ride.

Within These Wicked Walls is a YA Fantasy novel from Jamaican-American author Lauren Blackwood. It's what seems to be her debut novel, and one I have seen some praise for in advance on social media. It's a novel that takes a familiar gothic-esque* premise - main protagonist desperate for a job takes one at a haunted manor's, finds herself over her head all the while falling for the manor's main protagonist - and puts some different spin on it, one that takes it in a direction less gothic than its premise would seem.

And the result is a solid novel, for the most part, with the protagonist being very likable, the dialogue banter between her and the love interest being often very amusing, and the setting feeling very well done and interesting to read - an unnamed desert country* where the evil eye can infect a person and/or a house, requiring debteras to make magical amulets to cast them out. At the same time, the story grapples with themes and issues - such as power differences in a relationship, trust, and abusive parental relationships - enough to show it understands the issues are there...and then doesn't deal with the effects of those themes and issues, often seeming to assume they're just an issue for the main character she should get over, which is problematic. It's an issue that I need more words to explain, but one that prevents this from being one I can super wholly recommend.

*The story explicitly takes place in our world, with European Countries mentioned, but the setting's country is never named - although Debteras, per wikipedia, are part of Ethiopian churches, so the intended country is probably Ethiopia.


-------------------------------------------------Plot Summary-------------------------------------------------
Andromeda is desperate. After her parents sold her to the misanthropic Jember, she thought she had a career waiting for her - under Jember's training as a legendary debtera, she would too become a debtera, an exorcist (and other things) known for cleansing households of the Evil Eye. And she learned all she was taught and had natural talent for it.

If only Jember hadn't thrown her out before she could earn her license, preventing her from finding any honest work, and putting her back on the streets....where she is more likely to die than survive.

And so when young foreign heir Magnus Rorschach offers her a job - to cleanse his cursed mansion of the Evil Eye - she can't turn down the opportunity....even knowing that every other licensed debtera is staying away. For Magnus himself is cursed by the Evil Eye in horrifying ways, and the manifestations of the curse are everywhere in the manor, far worse than she has ever encountered. Andi should back out, take her changes on the street, since this is so clearly beyond her abilities....and any other debtera.

But before she can make that choice, Andi finds herself falling for Magnus....leaving her with the impossible task of dealing with a curse that has killed so many, for which the only solution Magnus insists might be to take his own life.....
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Within These Wicked Walls features a really interesting world, taking place in an unnamed Desert Country in an alternate version of our world (probably 19th-early 20th century Ethiopia). It's a country with tremendous poverty, where our protagonist's parents tried to sell her when she was just a child, caring more for money than her welfare. Where some form of Christianity is the main religion, but it isn't quite the same as European Christianity - they believe in the use of Debteras and their amulets and workings to combat curses and evil spirits (the Evil Eye). And White rich Europeans are present, but never took over this country, for what that's worth...even as their wealth still gives them power and a lack of understanding of the lives of the natives.

Into that world comes Andromeda (also called "Andi" for short), a girl who is a swarm of contradictions. Andromeda starts off desperate for a Patron who can provide for her, who will let her make money as a debtera and more importantly will make sure she gets off the street. She feels betrayed by Jember, both her teacher and essentially her father figure, who put her out on the street rather than let her become a full licensed debtera. And yet she also can't help but come to him again for help when she's out of her depth. Similarly, she starts falling for Magnus fairly quickly, entranced by his quirkiness...and yet she also fears any such connections, having been raised by a man whose heart seemed like it might as well have been made out of stone. A lot of this has to do with the way she was raised, where her father figure Jember was basically abusive in his raising of her....but she still has fond feelings for him, especially given what her parents wanted to do to her was worse (and of course, Andi is religious, in her own version of Christianity, which aids to that).

And she makes this a plot that largely keeps you entertained and interested, as it takes a few twists here and there on the way to an ending that thankfully doesn't take too long to arrive, as this is not a long book. Oddly, despite the book seeming like a classic gothic horror setup - haunted manor, love interest male with secrets, etc. - the book doesn't really go in that direction, mainly in that it doesn't really have any antagonist whatsoever, and there's never really any question about who is haunted and how. This works fairly well, as Andi struggles with romantic feelings, familial feelings, and a number of other characters who she comes to know who are also caught up in the danger of it all.

The problem though is that the book touches on a few themes that are real and relevant....and then backs away from dealing with them, or shifts them into issues considered imagined by Andi rather than real issues. So with Jesper, Andi had what is clearly an abusive relationship, something she seems to realize and something Magnus pushes her to realize....and yet Jesper is treated as sympathetic as the book goes on, as if he was her savior (which he was to some extent, but still doesn't excuse his behavior). And how that abuse affected Andi's inability to love is just treated a problem for Andi to overcome on her own, not something inflicted upon her (there's a plot to be made of the difficulty of still loving an abuser, especially an abuser who means well, but that's not here). Similarly, with Magnus, Andi realizes and tells him early how inappropriate his actions are towards her - he's her boss, he has the wealth and power in the relationship, not to mention is engaged to another woman (even if he doesn't care about that other). But the book treats this objection as ANDI being the one in the wrong, as if it's just her being in denial of her feelings, instead of something that's a real issue! There's a real power imbalance here, and nothing Magnus does puts him down on her level.

The result was a book I wanted to like more than I did, with some interesting aspects (and even these days, having a black heroine is still something rare enough to cheer) and a plot that didn't drag and went in some interesting directions all the way till its end. But it never quite stood out in its principal parts (the dialogue is the best part, but even with it the romance isn't great) and its issues are a bit too glaring for me to ignore. Alas.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood is marketed as an Ethiopian-inspired fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre. This book follows Andromeda (mostly referred to as Andi throughout), who is a exorcist of the Evil Eye known as a debtera. When she’s hired for a super challenging job that 10 other debteras couldn’t complete, will she be able to rid the house of all its manifestations (i.e. ghosts) or will the curse on her handsome boss, Magnus Rochester, kill her first?

What I loved about this book were the creepy, more gothic elements. There are some scenes in the beginning of the different manifestations in Thornhill and how they are able to harm the living that were superbly written. I loved learning about Andi and how her powers work. I also enjoyed some of her relationships with side characters. In many ways this story is a very good reinterpretation of Jane Eyre, while in other ways I felt that it could have played around more with the inspiration from the original story. This is especially true when it comes to the romance in this story. This is where I was truly hoping for some divergence from the source material, but this is, unfortunately, where the story stays most true. The romance between Jane and Mr. Rochester ruined Jane Eyre for me and the one between Andi and Magnus definitely did no favors for this book with me. I know many people will eat this romance right up. I simply don’t like how manipulative Magnus is of Andi’s emotions, especially after knowing her history with her pseudo-adoptive father. Magnus is also supposed to be 20 years old, yet spends most of the book whining about anything and everything. I will say that even though Magnus is manipulative, he is nowhere near as bad as the original Mr. Rochester. I loved other side characters a lot more than him even if they were also a bit troublesome. Jember, Andi’s pseudo-adoptive father, is grumpy and distant, but I loved his snark. Saba, one of the employees at Thornhill, is such a sweetheart but she has a big secret. I loved watching her character develop.

Long story short, come for the creepy house but don’t expect the romance to diverge from its inspiration.

*Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.*

3.5/5 stars

I’m a bit mixed on this one. This was pitched as a fantasy Jane Eyre retelling. It’s been years since I last read Jane Eyre, so maybe I missed some stuff, but I struggled to find the connections. Like the aspects it pulled from Jane Eyre are just common tropes in gothic fiction.

The fantasy aspects were interesting, but I wish this had lended more into the horror genre. I think I would have enjoyed this more if it had been a bit creepier and build more tension leading into the books conclusion. I think the problem was that there wasn’t really a mystery aspect by the end of the book. All the questions had been answered earlier on.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I’m a bit bittersweet on it because I just wanted it to go a bit further.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a review!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Within These Wicked Walls is a loose reimagining of Jane Eyre, but Ethiopian inspired. As it is loosely inspired by JE, it’s not a beat-for-beat retelling, but there are references to character names and archetypes, and it uses the basic idea of that and other Gothic tales in a similar vein to Mexican Gothic, creating an immersive, romantic Gothic fantasy tale.

Aside from being “Ethiopian-inspired,” and having the feel of that location to an extent, there isn’t a ton of world building or sense of place. I wasn’t certain whether it was meant to be our world, past, present or future, or some other world that looks vaguely like our own. I will say that the mansion and environs are suitably dark and creepy, and Lauren Blackwood does a good job sucking you in, even without a real concept of where you are. The magic is pretty interesting too, with Andromeda being a debtera, or exorcist, and the story following how she purges households like Magnus’ of evil. I liked that

Andromeda is really easy to root for. While not a carbon copy of Jane Eyre, she too comes from desperate circumstances, making this job necessary, even if it is risky to the point of scaring everyone else, as that’s the way she is able to survive.

I liked Magnus too, and as I note with many stories which retell or pay tribute to Jane Eyre in some way, he’s once again better than the original Rochester simply by virtue of having less skeletons in his closet. He’s definitely a bit out-of-touch and privileged, but he develops self-awareness through his relationship with Andromeda.

This is an impressive debut, and I’m curious to follow Lauren Blackwood to see what she does next. If you’re looking for something Gothic to read for the remainder of spooky season, I recommend checking this out.

Andromeda has finally found a job that will get her out of the hot desert sands and keep her well fed. She works as a debtera, an exorcist who cleanses homes of the Evil Eye. She must cleanse the home of wealthy and handsome, Magnus Rochester. He's gone through many debtera in search of the right person to break the curse.
When Andi first gets to the house she is immediately advised of the most important rules in her contract: Don't leave your room after ten o'clock at night and social time after dinner is mandatory. And the strange rules don't end there. But as much as she thinks she's ready she's not prepared to battle evil forces or her stubborn housemates.

This was the haunted house story I needed. I thought this opening of this story just pulls you in. I'm not one of those readers who pictures everything like a movie so I need just enough descriptive writing for me to picture the setting but without the language being too flowery. That's something a lot of writers struggle with. Either they're overly descriptive to the point where they're telling you ever little thing their characters ate or you have no idea what anything looks like because of the lack of descriptions. Lauren Blackwood finds just the right balance. I could picture the creepy manor with the blood thirsty demon hyena on the prowl.

Romance can be so hit and miss for me at times especially in fantasy. I wasn't sure I would like this one especially since it played on the idea that they shouldn't be together because Magnus is her employer and betrothed to someone else. I'd describe it as both fast-paced and slow-burn at the same time. It's instant attraction but hits just the right beats. Andromeda is longing for someone to love her after a life without experiencing open affection. Magnus is a few years older and has Kelela around who is desperately in love with him though he doesn't have the same affection for her.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the familial relationship between Andi and Jember, her guardian. It was complicated and hard to discussion without spoiling. I felt like initially it was described as abusive and Magnus even called it out as such. Then it's painted as misunderstood. Jember was definitely cold and emotionally detached from her displaying some toxic behavior. I understand why there would be some attachment on Andi's end but I wasn't able to fully buy Jember's excuses.

I found this a very quick and easy to read young adult story with a magic system that wasn't overly complex. It actually feels written for a teen audience instead of occupying a weird space in between adult and teen read. This is a solid debut that hits just the right romantic, dark, and fantastical beats for someone just getting into the genre and genuinely feels unique.

https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2021/10/within-these-wicked-walls-by-lauren.html

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andi. Shes basically an exorcist, she removes curses, hauntings, and makes protection amulets. In this book shes been disowned and abandoned by her mentor and she takes a job no one else wants (due to its deadly nature) in order to get a sponsor and the ability to legally work. Magnus is cursed with the evil eye and he needs someone to remove the curse, which is easier said than done.

So I liked this but didn't love it. I like Andi and Saba, especially their relationship with each other. I liked the overall plot as well. The idea of clearing hauntings as a career was super fun. This also had some chronic pain rep, which is nice to see.

What I dont like is basically Magnus' character, he feels very flat compared to everyone else. His personality being non-existent also makes the romance feel off. This is kinda insta love (which I'm not a fan of). There is also a lot of lying/miscommunication (which I also dont like at all).

Overall its a very good YA read and I recommend it if the plot sounds interesting to you.

Within These Wicked Walls is a gothic fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre set in Ethiopia with a heroine who has been hired to cleanse Thornfield Hall of evil spirits.

As a big fan of Jane Eyre, that premise immediately hooked me and I liked a lot of how this reimagined elements from the original in a way that makes sense for a modern YA novel. (for instance, while there are dark secrets they don't include a mad wife in the attic) I adored the first half of the book with this creepy house, determined heroine surviving an abusive childhood, and inventive magic system involving the creation of amulets to ward off the evil eye. We have a plain young heroine in Adromeda and a dark, forbidden romance (though this Rochester is only a year her senior, not more than a decade) I think this is really where you see the strongest points of retelling and reimagining the story. It was cool to see how the mythology and superstition surrounding the Evil Eye was woven into the narrative, one way the author really made this her own.

The second half of the book wasn't bad, but it felt much more conventional, in line with your typical YA action meets angsty romance with a side of dealing with complicated family relationships. It didn't quite deliver the plot arc and emotional impact I was hoping for, partly because it really begins to diverge from the original Jane Eyre. And the plot threads involving Andromeda's guardian wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste. I think for many readers this departure will be less of an issue and I do think this portion is fairly well-executed, it just didn't elevate the book to the level of a new favorite as I was kind of hoping. And that's partly on my own expectations. That said, I think this is a very strong debut and a great introduction to the gothic romance genre for younger readers. The audio narration is a pleasure to listen to and I enjoyed reading along with the ebook. I received an advance audio & e-book copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What I Loved
Within These Wicked Walls is a gothic dark fantasy thriller that mesmerized me from page one. It held me in its thrall so successfully; I forgot that I was reading a story that would have usually scared the bejesus out of me. I loved this the most about the story as not only the story but its effect on me kept me eternally fascinated.

The story is an incredible example of a gothic tale. The setting is so immersive and claustrophobia-inducing that you experience it with every one of your senses. I walked the halls with Andromeda as she explored what she needed to do to rid this haunted house of everything that goes bump in the night. And I suffered each horrific event right beside her, thoroughly captivated by the sights, sounds, and feels each new event held.

I loved the fantasy elements of a world with Debteras, which are people hired by the church to get rid of evil, and the amulet magic they control. The world-building in this novel is so subtle and so complex, it is easy to forget you are reading a fantasy story. Instead, it feels as natural as if you stepped outside your own home.

I also found myself intrigued by the relationships in this story. The father-daughter story is particularly moving as the story about how they came to be a family is unraveled and each minute detail explored. Also, the romance between Andromeda and Magnus, on the one hand, was hard to buy into, but on the other hand, it made perfect sense. Their need and reliance on each other to get through the ordeal couldn’t end up any other way.

Characters
I would say that this is essentially a character-driven tale, and I loved that about it too. Unlike many gothic tales I have read, I found that the characters in this story are exquisitely developed. Each one holds immense scars from the past, and they all work together to get over them and move on to a better place.

What I Wish
I can’t imagine any wish I could have for this story that would make it any better than it already is.

To Read or Not to Read
If you are looking for a story that will blow you away with its imagery and characters, then look no further. Within These Wicked Walls is that and so much more and should not be missed!

I have to make an admission, I have never read Jane Eyre. Do I have every best intention to one day? Yes, but today is not the day. Despite that when I saw the words “Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre“, I immediately knew that I had to check this out and I am so glad I did. It’s a great mixture of horror and fantasy, with a dash of Ethiopian culture. Also, based on what I do know of Jane Eyre, I would say that this is a loose retelling. There are definitely some of the same beats, but it is still a very different story.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story because I don’t normally read horror novels, but I really enjoyed the suspense aspect and the bleeding walls and all the horror based things that happened. It’s probably because it was more aligned with fantasy than an actual horror novel and it wasn’t graphic for the most part. I know, one of my warning tags says dismemberment, but it isn’t what you’re thinking. You’ll have to read it to find out what I mean. I’m not giving away any of the secrets to the plot of this book.

This paragraph is going to have a minor spoiler that you should have expected based on experience and it’s inspiration. There is a romance and I adore Magnus on a whole. He is just the perfect amount of eccentric to play off of Andi’s practicality. I love the way that they banter with each other. The only thing that bugged me, was the fact that Andi was risking her life for love. I’m not much of a fan of women risking their life for a man. Showing that a man is worth dying for, but I know it’s a common romance thing. However, I don’t think it really meant it in that way. I think it meant it in a way that it is worth fighting for those that you love.

Overall, I would say that this is a solid debut. I don’t want to say too much and give anything away. I hate it when people spoil things, so I go out of my way not to. This has a fun amount of horror and fantasy, in an interesting sort of alternate reality, with fun characters. I wouldn’t say that it reinvents the wheel or anything, but I also haven’t read anything quite like it. If you enjoy Y.A. fantasy, this is definitely worth checking out. I don’t think it crosses over to adult quite as well as some others, but I think it could have a certain appeal. I’ll definitely be checking out Lauren Blackwood’s next book.

I was so so excited when I got approved for Within These Wicked Walls, a Jane Eyre-inspired Ethiopian tale of magic, demons, and love. It’s been labeled a retelling, but I would hesitate to call it that because there are borrowed elements, but the book stands mostly on its own!

The story follows Andromeda, a debtera (exorcist), who is hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. Hired by the handsome Magnus Rochester, she begins to realize the extent of the power and terror he and his house are under with Manifestations of death and blood around every corner.

I was so interested in this book and I enjoyed pieces of it but overall I think it needed more fleshing out. I wanted more explanation of the magic system, Andromeda’s past, cleansing of the manifestations, and relationship building. There’s definitely some insta-love in this book (but that’s pretty fair as a Jane Eyre retelling) but it’s tempered by witty banter and beautifully-worded exclamations of love. I also wanted a little more blood and horror but this is YA!

This book had such an original type of magic, a glance into a culture not often touched on in US YA books, and a really strong female lead which I always love! I definitely think it’s worth picking up if you’re interested in tales of the gothic, books like Jane Eyre, or love matches like Sophie and Howl!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit my feelings on this book are a bit all over the place. I originally requested it because I was intrigued by the synopsis. Curses, an eccentric love interest, a woman trying to earn a living for herself in a man's world. Then I kept getting distracted by other books until I finally realized that the release date for this was creeping up on me. Then it became a little bit like a school assignment where I felt like I had to read it and so was less than excited about the potential story. However, this book quickly changed my mind! I loved Andromeda and her no nonsense way of approaching her work. She had limited options but she was determined and driven to do the impossible and finish a job 10 others had failed to do before her. Setting her against Magnus, for whom eccentric is a bit to kind of a word, was brilliant. I'll admit I fell for Magnus much quicker than Andromeda. He's just so ridiculous it's impossible not to love him.

I also deeply loved the setting of a cursed castle. It made this book the perfect spooky October read! All of the different manifestations of the curse were wonderful and I loved how they spanned the gambit of seemingly harmless to absolutely terrifying. The Librarian was a personal favorite, I love a figure who leaves threatening notes circles in books for one to find. I found the juxtaposition of the very English run household in the Ethiopian landscape truly interesting. Seeing Magnus's English employees who live with the consequences of the Evil Eye and the curse spurn the debtera amulets as superstitious nonsense was maddening.

Early on in the book I had fallen so in love with the characters and was so intrigued where the story was going I was convinced this was going to be a 5 star read. However, around the 60% mark some things started happening in the story that felt really unnecessary and kind of disappointed me from where we had been. There are also some reveals that just raised a lot more questions for me based on information we were given at the very beginning of the story. To be as vague as possible most of these revelations and issues come from moments relating to Saba in the last third of the story. That said there were still plenty of great moments in the later part of the book. I loved that we got to really dive into Andromeda's complex relationship with Jember. He was such a prominent figure hanging over Andromeda's head for the first half of the book I was so excited when I realized we were actually going to get to meet him and see their relationship in action. All in all this was a very good read, perfect for October, I will be picking up a physical copy to put on my shelves when it releases in a week and a half!

This was such an interesting story! It definitely captured the spirit of Jane Eyre but it did it while telling a wholly original horror story steeped in Ethiopian culture, food, dress, and custom.

The worldbuilding at first seemed limited by the claustrophobic setting of the story, but upon consideration the details present throughout made it incredibly thorough and transporting. I loved the harsh desert setting, the unnatural chill of the fantastically creepy house, the enigmatic Magnus, the magic of the debtera and Evil Eye.

Andromeda is practical and blunt, used to living with her difficult guardian and then on the streets. Magnus is spoiled and petulant and lazy, but also endearing and sweet. The mystery of the very creepy mansion had me enthralled.

The other characters faded into the background somewhat, but I greatly appreciated Jesper and Saba by the end.

The one thing I wasn't convinced by was Andromeda and Magnus' romance. It was abrupt and melodramatic, and I would have liked it to be more drawn out so they could settle more comfortably into their relationship. The ups and downs gave me whiplash and sometimes I felt like I had missed something while reading.

Overall, an excellent and immersive read that transported me fully to another place. Definitely recommend.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an e-arc for review.

Blackwood's prose is easy to read and her plot is well-paced with enough mystery and ghostly haunts to keep a reader hooked. Her characters are equally interesting, with vulnerabilities, privileges, snark, and secrets that make this story all the more appealing.

With heavy Ethiopian representation in food, dress, and beliefs, this Jane Eyre retelling draws upon its predecessor but does not mimic the unfolding of the story in any way.

She builds the reader's interest with engaging dialogue, some character backstory, religious import and practices, chilling hauntings, and familial dysfunction. The inclusion of the evil eye and supernatural manifestations fosters an atmosphere influenced by belief, superstition, and lore and further pulls the reader into this rather intriguing world.

Her decision to use and draw upon elements of Jane Eyre are not lost as their influence is felt, but the manner in which Blackwood chooses to build her story and characters and the world they inhabit is all her own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Within These Wicked Walls is a fascinating transposition of Jane Eyre to Ethiopia with good world-building and lovely prose.  But a sour male lead took this one down a notch or two for me.

Andromeda, called Andi, is a debtera – which, in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, is an itinerant figure who performs white magic and exorcisms for members of the church, as well as leading hymns and dancing as part of its services. In this universe, while the church is alluded to, it’s basically short for exorcist-for-hire. Andi has been training under her somewhat abusive father figure, Jember, as a debtera, but when he ends their mentorship as she turns nineteen, Andi is without the money she needs to become fully licensed in the field.  Seeking a way out of the poverty in which she grew up, Andi hopes to find herself a patron – someone rich and well-connected who will help her gain a good reputation.  She is soon hired by rich chocolate magnate Magnus Rochester to remove the Evil Eye from his cursed family home and self. Since Andromeda makes amulets, and silver amulets control the curse of the Evil Eye, she thinks the problem won’t be too hard to contain.

Andi thought wrong, as the curse is surprisingly hard to break. She is romantically intrigued by Rochester, but she is immediately faced with horrifying manifestations which confront her at every turn in his ancestral mansion, Thornfield.  Rochester’s curse is much more complicated than she was led to believe – he is forced to wear bells upon his body for a reason.  Can Andi dispel the Evil Eye for good as servants disappear all around her?  Or is she in over her head?

Uneven and yet filled with lush world-building, Within These Wicked Walls mostly works as an action-adventure tale and definitely sets a wonderful, pulse-pounding mood of gory suspense.  The magical realism works here, mixing nineteenth century references with modern ones.

The romance is a bit weaker, and feels a tad instalust-y. Magnus is even more arrogant than original recipe Rochester, and sometimes that makes him an unappealing hero, cold and cruelly indifferent to Andi’s suffering.  When they’re charming together they’re charming, but sometimes they can be annoying.  Andi’s complicated relationship with Jember is fraught and complex (he beats her on-page, and there is also mention of the fact that Andi’s birth parents sold her to a brothel as a child).  It has made Andi a traumatized person who is self-defensive in an honest and understandable way.

I liked Andi most of all though.  She’s memorable enough to make this a B-level read and worth a recommendation.  Within These Wicked Walls works better as a horror yarn than a romance, but the younger set might be willing to overlook that weakness.

Note: This book contains some major gore as well as body horror.  

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