Unfortunately this read wasn't suited for me, however I believe will be suited to many others who love this genre.

I received this novel in an Arc format however I didn’t get a chance to read it until April 2022. I got into the first couple chapters and loved it so much. I ended up borrowing the audiobook from my library so I could keep listening to the story while running around for Easter holidays. The story really comes alive with the audiobook. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being able to flip from listening to reading and how easy it was to imagine the story in both formats! Definitely looking forward to ready more from Lauren!

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda who is a debtera. Andi has been hired to cleanse a house marked by the Evil Eye. Inside will she find more than she bargained for in magic and love?

I enjoyed this read. It was fast and simple. The magic system was well thought out and interesting. I loved all the amulets. When I was reading about this book everyone kept saying it was a Jane Eyre retelling, and honestly in the most loose sense sure, but I found the connections small at best. I enjoyed the heck out of this gothic horror YA.

Definitely will commend this book for capturing the essence of the originally Jane Eyre but still being its own.
Unfortunately I disliked the originally and was hoping this book would offer more that I disliked from the classic, however I disliked how fast and abrupted the love between Magnus and Andromeda which was such a contrast to how drawn out the storyline was.

However the magic system and the cursed house/spirit situation in a Victorian setting was very cool! Definitely the saving grace and why I continued the book.

BUT, even though this book wasn't my favourite my mum just finished and LOVED IT!

I don't like Jane Eyre but I do like diverse retellings so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I found it boring with incredibly weak worldbuilding. Also, given that it's based in Ethiopia, why is the girl on the cover so pale when in the book she is described as having dark skin?

This is a debut, standalone fantasy novel marketed as a Jane Eyre retelling. I have to be completely honest and let you know that I actually haven't read Jane Eyre yet (I know, I know... the classics are on my never-ending TBR list lol) so I went into this with a completely open mind and basically no back story. I ended up really liking this book, and am looking forward to whatever she comes out with next!

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda (or Andi for short), a debtera hired to cleanse a house of the Evil Eye and all of its manifestations. I will admit, it took me a bit to wrap my head around what I was reading - we get off to a bit of a slow start in the beginning, but once things picked up and I really understood a debtera and their job, the book moved along much quicker!

I loved Magnus and his humour, even when he wasn't trying to be funny lol! His personality was on point, and I really liked the conversations between him and Andromeda. I was also a fan of Jember, though I'm not sure I was supposed to be haha. I just felt like I really understood where he was coming from, and how he felt that everything he did was for the betterment of Andi. I don't want to say too much more, just know that I liked his character alot! And then of course, we have the main female lead Andromeda. It was great watching Andi grow into the character she becomes at the end. I tip my hat to the author for being able to write her changes throughout the book while keeping her core essence the same. It made her growth realistic and relatable.

The plot itself was quite interesting and unique in my opinion! Once the story really got going, I loved everything about it. I almost wanted to see and read about more manifestations! They were so cool! I feel like things ended the way they should have, and I love that this was a standalone that wrapped up nicely. Great debut!

The tension in this book is exquisite. The book was fantastic as it’s own thing or as a retelling. High schoolers and older readers will love it.

[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious Blog on 3/30/22]

I devoured this book in one sitting and basically lived my best life on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Within These Wicked Walls has characters you will both love and hate (sometimes at the same time!) with their own motivations and histories, succinctly developed worldbuilding to sweep you away, and the horrors of bleeding walls to add a sense of dread and danger.

"It's said the Evil Eye was the first Manifestation of sin - namely jealousy and greed. In a constant state of longing, it latches onto any human who desires the same thing it does."

Within These Wicked Walls is fast-paced with high-stakes action that is fairly consistent throughout the course of the book, which is unlike typical books in the Gothic genre. Because of the nature of the Evil Eye and Andromeda being hired to exorcise it, the horrors of the house are up front and center and there isn't much time spent building a general feeling of unease. The fast pace, tight plotting, and character banter make this a fantastic read for horror readers who typically find Gothic pacing cumbersome.

"For a moment, our souls spoke to each other a single truth, shutting out all the anger and shame. In that moment we both wanted each other, deeply and honestly."

The relationship that develops between Magnus and Andromeda gave me all of the yearning feelings. Both of them long for a connection and both slowly warm up to one another as their working relationship progresses. Their chemistry is palpable and I loved the quick-witted barbs they throw at each other. The romance is sweet and I found myself smiling during their encounters more than once.

"I turned to see blood leaking down the walls from the ceiling."

Overall, I am incredibly impressed by Blackwood's debut novel! She took Jane Eyre and made it her own with an Ethiopian-inspired world (and turned up the horror!), and cannot wait to read what she write next. This is a fantastic read for Spooky Season or any time of year when you want a little bit of romance and a little bit of horror. I read along with the audiobook and 10/10 would recommend!

Content warnings: blood, body horror, death, physical and emotional abuse

eARC provided by Wednesday Books by Netgalley for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subjet to change upon final publication.

This story was way more romantic than I thought it would be. I choose this book solely due to the cover so when I started I had no clue of the content. Although the storyline is not my usual I enjoyed the story regardless. The story was pretty face-paced and action-packed. So around all that Lauren was able to add a romance between Addy and Magnus. They were connected pretty quickly and although Magnus knew Addy is tough and is way less truthful, I good enjoyed it all I'm all

The character is not described within the book as ethnically ambiguous as the cover presents. The cover seems white-washed, which is very unfortunate. I liked the reimaging aspect of this and even the world built, but the moment the romance started, everything went downhill.

I really liked this one! I thought that it was a really good level of creepy, but not too much. I really liked the main character, and I liked the different parts of the house. The ending was really good. Overall really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This has been one of the most captivating e-books I have read in a while. Each character was fleshed out really well and the atmosphere was a perfect blend of fantasy and reality. I will definitely continue to pick up books by this author.

DNF 37%. This book was unfortunately didn’t captivate my full attention. The storyline itself was interesting but the characters were not well fleshed out in my opinion. I had a hard time with the main character specifically, she wasn’t very interesting and felt a bit flat.

Loved this book. It definitely had Jane Eyer vibes but with a modern, supernatural twists. Really enjoyed the ride.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.***

WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS was a great book! I loved so much about it: the gothic atmosphere, the Jane Eyre vibes, the haunted house, the influences of Ethiopian mythology. I really adored Andromeda as a main character and her general sass had me cracking up as she enters the household of the eccentric Magnus Rochester to excise an evil spirit from it. She was a character who had such a depth of emotion to her and held her own against crazy odds and I couldn't help but love her. The magic system of debterras and amulets was super interesting to learn about. Blackwood's writing is sublime and really shined during the books darker elements and complexities. It kept me enraptured the entire time, There were definitely moments I did not love the relationship between Andi and Magnus because it felt toxic to me, so that is why this book is rated a 4 as opposed to a 5 because, while I enjoyed reading this immensely, that didn't sit right with me. But even the romance between Andi and Magnus seems to even out by the end of the book. I just couldn't get past those moments. But all in all, this book is a unique and enthralling fantasy debut from Lauren Blackwood, and I deeply enjoyed being immersed in this world and this story.

WHAT A BOOK! God, how much we need such retellings, such stories that bend the canon and establish a new one!
Lauren Blackwood's writing was so strong, emotional and appropriately atmospheric--I loved every second of this book! Nevertheless, I did feel that there were some pacing issues in this one.

The beginning was amazing, the middle was a bit slow and the ending managed to resolve all the issues but it still lacked the 'OMG' trait found in the beginning. Still, though I cannot NOT rate this one as a 5-star book. Andromeda and Magnus will forever stay in my heart and I'll follow the author around for more info on her new releases! Thanks for sending me an ARC for this one!

A fantasy-imagining of Jane Eyre? Sign me up!

This book has intrigued me ever since I read the blurb and oh boy, it does not disappoint. This gothic tale is compelling and it's so atmospheric. I can vividly imagine the beautifully haunting surroundings and characters. Definitely one of the best YA books in 2021.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the world of Ethiopian mythology. The romance wasn’t great for me.

Within These Wicked Walls is a beautiful story of Andromeda, a young debtera tasked with cleaning the Evil Eye from the house of Magnus, a young heir who hired her despite her lack of certification. This book is full of action, secrets, romance, and difficult relationships. Many readers will appreciate the witty rhetoric, the eccentric main characters, and the honest and difficult conversations throughout the book. It is the perfect mix of comedy and drama.