This book was not for me. I couldn't connect with the characters. Perhaps it would have helped to have read Jane Eyre before this. Perhaps I had already read too many other fantasy books recently. Perhaps it's on me. Regardless, I stopped reading it and moved on.

I will definitely need to expand my review for my blog. I have so much to say about this, but the most important was how much I loved it! The characters were well thought out, the world building was interesting, and the magical concepts were very original. They seemed to take quite a bit of work compared with most magical systems, which I appreciated. Fighting the evil didn't come easy.

The romance was also so great, super slow-burn, kindred spirits, will they won't they--should they? I loved it. I can't wait to see what Blackwood has for us next!

This is definitely a book that I'll have in my top 5 of 2021, and I've read some very amazing books this year so far. This may even be one of the ones I give out as holiday gifts.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

*Thank you Netgalley for the ARC and publisher!*

Andromeda aka Andi is our MC and she is badass. Her job is to cleanse places of demons/manifestations and when she travels on her own to her new job she realizes she is in over her head. The story is a Jane Eyre retelling and Laura did a fabulous job with staying true to the roots and adding twists to the story. I really enjoyed Magnus and Andi's banter and how they grew together as characters. The development is fantastic.

However towards the last couple if chapters I did get a little bored... I thought we would get more of a "mad" Mr. Rochester and more creepy happenings during the Waking. Overall, I enjoyed the story and am glad it's a standalone book.

4.5 stars

4.5 STARS

Within These Wicked Walls is an absolutely stunning debut by Lauren Blackwood. This novel is an unforgettable mesh of horror, romance, and mystery, that kept me wondering and on the edge of my seat.

Within These Wicked Walls is a yound adult fantasy reimagining of Jane Eyre. When Andromeda is hired to cleanse the castle of a mysterious young man named Magnus Rochester, she doesn't know what to expect. As a debtera—an exorcist who cleanses household of the manifestations of the Evil Eye—Andromeda is used to danger in her profession. However, there is more than meets the eye to Magnus, and Andromeda must decide where her loyalties lie.

This novel was nothing short of spectacular. I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to look away from the pages while simultaneously wanting to throw my Kindle across the room. Horror/gothic is a genre that I am not used to, and this book was fantastic at marketing the rest of the genre to me. Blackwood did an incredible job with shaping this novel. The characters were extremely compelling. Andromeda has her own strengths and weaknesses that play to her reactions in the book, and I didn't feel annoyed by her in this book. She was a character that I found myself enamoured with. Magnus was probably my favorite character. He is so adorable and awkward and sweet and my heart panged for him. Some of the side characters were also interesting to read about. Saba and Jember were very compelling and I enjoyed reading about them. The worldbuilding was incredible. The magic system is unique and clearly explained while also leaving some room for the reader to make their own assumptions. The world was lush and vivid and helped bring together the eerie vibes. My one complaint would be that there were some moments in this book that felt a bit repetitive, and Magnus and Andromeda sometimes didn't have the chemistry I wanted them to have. However, I will be thinking about this book for a long time and I am excited to read more of Lauren Blackwood's work.

This Ethiopian-inspired fantasy has a lot going on: a nod to Jane Eyre (though not a retelling in any meaningful way), a house cursed by the Evil Eye, a tough, likable, protagonist - Andromeda - who works as a debtera (exorcist), a complicated father-daughter relationship, and a handsome young lord of the manor - Magnus Rochester - who bears the brunt of the curse on his house. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The atmosphere, setting, and magic system were all interesting, as were the side characters. This is a very creative Gothic fairy tale, and I'm not sure why the author felt a need to throw in the Jane Eyre bit, as it wasn't needed. The one thing that didn't work for me was the romance between Andromeda and Magnus. There was no real groundwork done to make their feelings for each other credible. Overall, a strong debut and an author I'll be looking for in future. My thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Blackwood, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Within These Wicked Walls has such a mood about it. From the horrors our main character has faced in life to the horrors she faces in the cursed mansion, I enjoyed every minute of this book. This was a great twist on Jane Eyre. I loved all the complicated friendships and the intricate magic system of the debtera. Few things I hope get cleaned up in the final but what a debut! I cannot wait to see what Lauren Blackwood writes next.

If you want a hauntingly dark and twisty retelling with the mood of your favorite gothic horror plus complex characters and even more complex relationships, check this one out!

Also this would be a fantastic mini series on Netflix! Think "Haunting of Hill House.' It would be soo good.

Full review to come on www.readandwander.com within 30 days of publication.

3.5
Great lead character. Loved the writing and the mood is 🔥🔥. But skim read whenever the parental figure was om the page. Such a toxic and manipulative person. The falling apart old mansion is character in this one what a gothic romance needs. Don't get into for the scares, go into for the moods.

Cw : child neglect and emotional abuse

I was thoroughly impressed by this book. Between the romance, world building, and characters, I was enthralled the entire story!

The main character was strong and powerful, but in a relatable and likeable way.

Overall, this was a unique YA fantasy/horror/romance blend that was exactly what I was looking for.

These are the types of horror books that I love. When the horror is subtle and just interweaves with the story in such a magical way that makes me just a little bit paranoid. The characters were interesting and the story flowed nicely.

Everything and every thought the main character has is so overly descriptive and heavy. And I'm probably one of the only people who know nothing about Jane Eyre. I'm dnfing Within These Wicked Walls for now.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the review opportunity.***

This was a little outside my comfort zone. I don't normally read paranormal OR romance books, and those are both genres that this falls under. That being said, I generally enjoyed the book. I especially liked the steamy (but still PG-rated) romance scenes. I also enjoyed Jember and Saba's characters. The way the book ended with them (no spoilers!) was touching and fitting, imo. However I can't say this is a book I'd pick up again. Ghosts/demons/haunted houses just don't interest me, and I wish the romance was just a bit more steamy.

Jayne eyre is one of my favourite books so as soon as I saw ‘Jayne eyre retelling’ I was there! And it’s not just a carbon copy it has that fresh YA spin on it! This book did not disappoint its horrifying yet addictive and I was hooked from the start! The horror that is weaved throughout this story makes it exceptional, it was an instant win for me.

I adored andromeda’s character her backstory is tragic yet her sheer will to survive the horrific castle is admirable but she still has that basic need for affection so her relationship that develops with Magnus was one of my favourite aspects to this story.

I would 100% recommend this book to friends as it is so easy to sit and be hooked enough to read in one sitting (which I did!!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this title early.

First of all, I have to scream about how beautiful this cover is!!! It's so eye-catching and alluring!

And the story is as eye-catching and alluring as the cover. The world building is lush and the cast of characters is all very diverse. The concept of the Evil Eye and making amulets to counter it is super fresh and engaging to read, especially in YA fantasy. The Jane Eyre elements are there and recognizable but this story stands on its own. The creepy/eerie hauntings in the house were so good and imaginative that I was almost sad that Andi was tasked with getting rid of them. Speaking of Andi, she's definitely my favorite part of this book! Blunt and sensible surrounded by strange ghosts and the even stranger Magnus, Andi was compelling and easy to root for. I loved the way she handled the other characters and I stayed up late each night devouring more of the story!

If you like remixed gothic retellings, a collection of characters who develop strong bonds, new and diverse twists on old tropes, and a lead female character with lots of agency, then definitely pick this book up!

this was such a good retelling of jane eyre but in a refreshing and fun way for teens and adults alike who don’t care to read the classics!

I mean, this is an Ethiopian-inspired fantasy Jane Eyre-retelling, what more do I need to say?!
This is one of my first forays into the world of horror/fantasy YA and I want more.

I absolutely devoured this in a day or two. This world and its characters just utterly drew me in.
I love the main themes of friendship, love and family and even shed a tear or two at the end.
This book literally has everything: romance, gore, a haunted mansion, incredibly strong characters.. I could go on.

The one thing I liked the least, and you won't hear me say that very often, was the romance. It had all the characteristics of insta-love (one of my pet peeves) while I wouldn't have minded a slower burn at all! I just didn't feel the connection between Andi and Magnus.
I loved them both as characters, I just don't think I loved them together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Fast paced and hard to put down! The author writes well and does an great job at world building. (Maybe too good if you don't like a lot of horror. :P)

A fun story with lovely writing and characters that were interesting! I was also pleased to see that this was a stand alone which I wish there were more of.

The first thing I read about this book was the description of: An Ethiopian-inspired fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre. That's all I needed to see and I was in. And what an adventure! This book came complete with a creepy haunted castle, ghosts, romance and of my course, plenty of banter. Andromeda was a wonderful character and I really enjoyed reading her story. Magnus was a very flawed hero and I really liked the way his character was done. There was action and some tear-jerking moments as well and overall this was a wonderful read.

KUDOS to Lauren Blackwood! WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS is an entertaining story of fantasy and romance balanced nicely with a hint of horror topped by the perfect measure of blood and gore! She has woven an engaging tale of fantasy with a colorful cast of characters.. Her characterization is on point, the plot doesn't feel tedious and you root for Andromeda and Magnus.. Overall, I enjoyed the read, would highly recommend it to those looking for something different, and appreciate #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Hello! Thank you for the chance to read this arc! I really enjoyed this book. It’s a mixture of so many things that I love like ya fantasy with some horror and it’s dreamy. Fantastic job!