I really wanted to like this books and it started out intriguing enough. The world and setting felt unique and atmospheric, but as the story progressed there was too much that bothered me about it.

For a character-driven book the character's personalities weren't properly worked out in my opinion. There were way too many inconsistencies in their behaviour. Especially the protagonists just seemed to switch their entire worldviews from scene to scene, which was very annoying and made it hard to see them as more than just some interchangeable book characters.
The love story was very insta-lovey and not very plausible to me either.

The writing varied between being completely confusing, as if there are sentences missing to properly grasp what is going on in a scene, to being redundant and having characters realize things that are going on that just seemed plainly obvious much too late. I just had a lot of moments that threw me off, because stuff didn't make sense either logically or structurally. The vocabulary also seemed a bit limited and many expressions were repeated to the point that it was very noticable to me.

Unfortunately, I struggled getting through towards the end. It's too bad, because the story really had a lot of potential that could have been brought out by better editing.

Thanks to Wednesday books and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Within These Wicked Walls is a gorgeously written retelling of Jane Eyre, filled to the brim with Ethiopian-inspired lore and a gripping, poignant romance. But don't be fooled; this is not a replica of its original inspiration. Andi's story takes on a life of its own as readers are transported into the haunted halls of the home she's hired to exercise, and her fated meeting with a boy who depends on her success for his survival. I absolutely loved how Blackwood brought the story to life through lush and lyrical writing that blurs the boundary before the magic and the mundane, reality and madness. Overall, it's a strong debut with an intriguing magic system and a world packed with refreshing lore.

This was a thoughtful, immersive, satisfying Jane Eyre retelling! I love the increased agency to the protagonist, the propulsive exorcism plot, and the developed, nuanced characters. A creative, important retelling!

What a unique and incredibly cool book! Within These Wicked Walls is pitched as an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling, which it absolutely is, yet I still feel like the read I experienced is very different than what I expected going in (but in a good way!)

Blackwood’s writing is extremely vivid, which lends itself well to this kind of story. During quieter moments of the story, the reader can easily picture the dusty, old gothic mansion and feel the heaviness of its cold seep into their bones. There’s the perfect balance of enough detail to visualize everything just right, but without being bogged down by excessive descriptions. Especially in a story like this one, where the environment brings so much of the tension and at times acts almost as a character itself, this balance feels especially valuable to the effectiveness of the story and Blackwood absolutely hits it spot on.

And for all her skill establishing a setting and creating palpable atmosphere, she also excels when writing fast-paced action sequences. There are some truly horrific scenes within this book and I respect that Blackwood doesn’t gloss over the gritty details. It’s far from gratuitous, but enough to make an impact and leave the reader thoroughly grossed and/or creeped out (depending on the scene – sometimes you even get two for the price of one!)

One thing I especially enjoyed in this book is the thorough exploration of family dynamics and the different ways people can be connected to one another. I won’t dive too deeply into this so I don’t spoil anything, but we explore many different forms of parent/child relationship, sibling relationships, and several peer relationships. We also see how class disparities and various power dynamics can impact these relationships. Exploring these connections gives the reader a lot to reflect on and I applaud the author for so seamlessly working something so touchingly crafted into a book brimming with curses, monsters, and brutal attacks.

The only aspect of this book that I struggled with a bit was the romance. There were times when something felt somewhat off and I couldn’t quite determine where Andi and Magnus stood with one another. There were other occasions where these feelings seemed to flip drastically with no clear reason, which felt confusing and I often found myself backtracking to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Even a non-romance reader like myself knows that this will they/won’t they can be intentional and very effective, but this did not feel especially successful, in my opinion. I found myself wishing there was a bit less vague back-and-forth and more of a clear trajectory in their relationship.

Overall, this was a really great read and I’m glad I got to experience it. For all the horror and tension, there are some very impactful and poetic moments within these pages. I’ll be on the lookout for whatever this author decides to publish next.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for a review copy.

I picked this book up for the retelling of "Jane Eyre". While there were some similarities, this book takes a turn and heads off on it's own. I found myself compelled to keep reading and to continue Andromeda's story. The setting and atmosphere in this story added to the storyline and the mysterious castle. I also enjoyed reading the components that are unique to Ethiopia. Andromeda is fearless and was a likeable character!

Within These Wicked Walls, Lauren Blackwood’s debut YA fantasy novel, is marketed as an Ethiopian-inspired imagining of Jane Eyre. The description fits, but I’d argue that it doesn’t do the book justice—there are elements of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, yes, but Within These Wicked Walls is its own story, one that has magic and heartache as well as romance.

We follow Blackwood’s tale through the eyes of Andromeda, Andi for short. She’s a 19-year-old debtera, a person trained to create intricate amulets that break curses and ward off the Evil Eye, a malevolent magical force that gloms on to those who have particular sins or vices. At the beginning of the novel, Andi is on the streets just trying to survive—Jember, the man who had trained and raised her, had thrown her out.

She’s so desperate, in fact, that she takes on a job for Magnus Rochester, a young heir to a chocolate enterprise that bears a curse from the Evil Eye. That curse plagues him and his castle, and we start the novel with Andi walking through the grit and sand toward the building, which has a cold gothic ambiance, a stark contrast to the hellishly hot air of the desert that it resides in. [rest of review at link below.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Lauren Blackwood all about her debut novel, Within These Wicked Walls, which is described as, “An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which Andromeda—an unlicensed debtera—is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with the boy whose life hangs in the balance.”

Those picking up Within These Wicked Walls looking for a beat-for-beat Jane Eyre retelling are probably going to be disappointed, but I highly encourage you to forget about all that and read this incredible thriller from Lauren based on its own merits. Filled with all the horror tropes you could want, including a somewhat unconventional romance, a top-to-bottom great cast of characters, and a haunted house you won’t soon forget, this is a wonderful debut from Lauren, perfect for this time of year.

Steve and Lauren talk about her many passions including playing the violin, she’s a professional after all, the insta-love trope and why it’s totally okay, the Jane Eyre connection to the book, Within These Wicked Walls of course, and much, much more.

For the full interview, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-within-these-wicked-walls/

Within These Wicked Walls is marketed as a retelling of Jane Eyre and although some elements such as the haunted gothic house and the reclusive house owner were common in both books, it was not the case. Within These Wicked Walls is unique on its own without being compared to Jane Eyre.

Blackwood created a chilling atmosphere with likable and complex characters. Although I found Andromeda and Magnus' romance to be insta-love, I enjoyed their witty banter back and forth. Some characters had no purpose other than to further the plot but that did not deter me from enjoying the book.

Overall, it was a solid debut filled with an interesting magic system. Perfect for when you're in the mood for a spooky read!

Within These Wicked Walls takes the classic Gothic haunted house story and adds a little twist. A good twist. Lauren Blackwood has created an interesting and gripping story.

Within These Wicked Walls is a story of a debtera journey to her own patronage through working with a very infected House. I love th e blend of religion with that of the mystical as most debteras are connected and/or may work for the Church, but their job is to remove manifestations or haunted beings.

I, like I'm sure most people, absolutely fell in love with Magnus. He's quirky and different while being honest and vulnerable at the same time. Lauren did an AMAZING job at developing this character throughout the story. I know that I'm supposed to like Andromeda, but she didn't progress like I wanted her to. I was very grateful for the epilogue to let me know she's more on track to get there.

However, the actual story felt a bit remedial and repetitive. This is probably in part to my frustrations with Andromeda and partly because the ending was very clear by chapter 5. Overall, it's a great story, and I would recommend it to others.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is marketed as an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling. I didn’t find there to be much related to Jane Eyre, aside from maybe the setting, some names and it having a heroine.

I started it in October and it was the perfect read for around Halloween. The atmosphere and writing was perfect for this timeframe.

I really enjoyed the beginning, but as it went on I felt disengaged and disinterested in the story. I liked the fast paced, quick chapters but also found it hard to connect to the characters.

Overall, this was a bit of a miss for me. That’s not to say it won’t be a hit for others, but that was just my personal experience.

A magical and creepy retelling of Jane Eyre. I loved the world and magic system, and the strong protagonist. I highly recommend this book.

Set against a Victorian-era backdrop, we first meet Andromeda the debtera, which basically means she’s an exorcist. Life on the street has taught her valuable lessons, like how to fight demons, how to survive, and how love is a weakness she can’t afford to have. Magnus is the complete opposite of Andromeda. He’s a rich kid who can basically get anything he wants—and is used to being waited on hand and foot. But it’s not all sunshine and roses for him. His house is haunted by dozens of manifestations, and everyone who’s tried to get rid of them has either left in defeat or died.

You can expect a lot of pining. And trust me when I say, I couldn’t be happier. I love those moments where the tension between two characters is palpable, especially when it’s clear they want to touch each other but don’t, either due to social etiquette or fear of rejection. There is something decidedly not vanilla about Magnus and Andromeda’s relationship. This is more like subtext to the subtext, but somewhere between Magnus’ teasing and Andromeda’s defiance, you can tell their dynamic has the potential to be very interesting. If this sounds at all enjoyable to you, I’m begging you to please pick this book up.

But more than anything, I came here for the elements of horror, and they did not disappoint. The worldbuilding is fantastically intricate. As a debtera, Andromeda must carve out amulets to vanquish the evil spirits. The descriptions of this process alone are fascinating, and it’s not even the most exciting part about everything going on. Every variation of the Evil Eye is unique, and each manifestation presents itself differently. Some are relatively benign (if not downright annoying), while others have killed without prejudice and have no intention of stopping unless by force. I couldn’t help imagining how this would make a fantastic horror movie. Not only are the manifestations themselves cinematic, but with a strong Black lead and a diverse cast, plus the historical element and the swoon-worthy romance, you literally cannot go wrong here.

I’ve read a lot of incredible books this year, and I’ve loved all of them in different ways. I don’t like playing favorites, but I will if it means you’ll give this book a chance: Within These Wicked Walls is the best book I’ve read this year, and I need everyone to pick it up.

Too insta-lovey for me, but not bad. I enjoyed the story even though I was completely confused by the world. AT first, I just thought that the world building could have been a bit better (all we know is that there is this crazy desert all around), but then Prague exists(??)

It had some serious Elizabeth and Nathaniel from [book:Sorcery of Thorns|42201395] vibe.

This was one of my fall favorites. Horrorlicious! Just spectacularly done with super creepy vibe while still keeping the story flowing. Looking forward to more from this author!

If you are a fan of Jane Eyre retellings with a dark twist, this is certainly the read for you. Action-packed and extraordinarily unsettling, this is a novel that really spooked me and kept me riveted from start to finish.

I enjoyed this story. While I am not familiar with many Jane Eyre stories, this take on the situation was very good and kept me entertained the whole way through.

I felt like there was a lot of hype for this book. I kept seeing it everywhere and on lists of best new books of 2021 but for me, it fell a bit flat. The story is good and interesting enough to continue reading but it wasn't a mind blowing read. The premise is what pulled me in and the beautiful cover art. Events kept things interesting but some parts were slow. There wasn't a lot of detail to describe people or places. I found myself having a hard time imagining scenes as they played out. Andromeda is the main character and I was intrigued by her and her backstory. For being a debtera, I just assumed there would be more cleansing and such going on. I wish there had been more. The romance felt kind of forced, like there wasn't enough people so they just threw these two people together. Magnus seemed like a brat and I didn't root for him the entire time. Overall, a read that hasn't changed my life in any significant way

Between a 2.5 and 3 star read.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher*

Such a fun retelling of Jane Eyre! The style of writing was simply addicting, and Andi was a fantastic MC to follow. Even though it was a retelling, it felt super original.

I think it is a stretch to market this as a fantasy retelling of "Jane Eyre", but I get it (main character has an abusive, or at least very unloving, childhood, odd things happening at the house of her employment, and she falls in love with her employer whose last name is also Rochester). Characters were memorable and well developed, the plot was interesting and creepy, and overall it was a well written debut novel.