I think that the concept for this book was really interesting but the execution didn’t quite live up to the premise. I found the writing in this one to be a little disjointed.

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

My favorite part of this book was probably the setting. Being set in the Jamaican jungle added a certain new level to the story that I wasn't expecting. Overall, this is an enjoyable YA fantasy read, but I will admit that I wanted more answers to some of the ideas presented in the story. It felt unfinished, or unexplained in some areas.

Wildblood though will thrill teen readers and keep them interested, I just personally wanted a little more from it.

I did not care for the MC and so my enjoyment of this book wavered as I read on. It was the storyline and supporting characters that kept me reading.

I started this one a while ago, and it just couldn’t catch my attention. I may come back to it another time, but I have to put it on pause for now. If I ever pick it up again I will update my review!

Magical Jamaican Fantasy Novel

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a young adult fantasy novel set in a magical version of Victorian-era Jamaica. The story follows 18-year-old Victoria, who was kidnapped at the age of six and forced to work for the Exotic Lands Touring Company. Victoria is a Wildblood, possessing unique magical abilities that allow her to manipulate the jungle and its inhabitants.

Wildblood is a captivating fantasy novel that offers a unique blend of adventure, magic, and social commentary. Its strengths lie in its vivid setting, complex protagonist, and the exploration of significant themes. However, the book's weaknesses include its occasionally uneven pacing and underdeveloped romantic subplot. Overall, Lauren Blackwood's Wildblood is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and historical fiction.

For those interested in a fantasy novel that delves into the complexities of colonialism and personal identity while offering a lush, magical setting, Wildblood is worth exploring.

I really enjoyed the magic system and jungle in Wildblood. However. I think the jungle was developed more than any actual character in the novel. It would have been nice to learn more about what happened with Victoria as a child. And the ending just left me bewildered. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I just wonder why it took so long...
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I found the plot and premise very interesting. The world was well imagined and described. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Victoria and Thorn though. And I found the end to be a bit of anticlimax but I did still enjoy the book.

The concept for this book was intriguing to me. A girl kidnapped when she was very young and then working as a tour guide - and set in Jamaica! However, the writing just didn’t do it for me, and I didn’t connect with the romance part of this at all. I think it was just the “Insta-love” trope that I wasn’t into for this book. I really enjoyed the Jamaican folklore bits, and the ending was wrapped up in a satisfying way, but I didn’t love the book as a whole.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Victoria, kidnapped as a child due to her powers, is now a Wildblood. Wildbloods are people with powers forced by the company to lead tourists safely through the jungle. When one mission has them taking a miner into the depths of the jungle in hopes of gold, Victoria is skipped over for the promotion she deserves. And of course, it's her ex who she must work with to safely guide the client in hopes of riches.

What I 🤍:
🌴 Rainforest Setting
🪄 Magical Powers
💕 Second Chance Romance
🗺️ Adventure Plot

The premise of this plot was well thought out. Although, when reading, at times I felt it dragged in some areas, and left me wanting more in others. I wish there had been more background into why the Wildbloods started and how it was able to continue. Great start for a debut author.

Victoria is an 18 year old wild blood. She was taken from her home at age six and enslaved by the Exotic Lands Touring Company. They protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.

I really wanted to love this book but it just didn't hit the mark for me. The cover pulled me in but the book left me feeling blah. This wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

I fell in love with Lauren Blackwood’s writing when I read her debut, Within These Wicked Walls. There is something so evocative about how she strings words together. When I discovered her second book, Wildblood, on Netgalley, I instantly sent in a request. Lauren Blackwood’s writing mixed with a monstrous tromp through the jungles of Jamaica? Sign me up!

This story follows a young woman named Victoria, a “wildblood” who helps leads expeditions through the murderous-creature-filled jungles in Jamaica. Victoria is one of the top guides at the company she.. “works” for and, after she is denied a well-earned promotion, she has plans to use her skill to her advantage. Her plans are thrown awry when she meets the company’s newest client, Thorn. He is a handsome distraction that she truly does not need at the moment.

Though I didn’t love this book quite as much as Blackwood’s debut, I found myself completely sucked in by her writing once again! It’s just so lush and vivid. It makes it easy to lose yourself in the narrative as the world of the novel blossoms in your mind. It was so simple to envision myself tromping through the Jamaican jungle right alongside Victoria and Thorn.

Speaking of our two main characters, I have to say I wasn’t as enamored with them as I had hoped I would be. Victoria is an incredible character, don’t get me wrong. She’s a fighter, a strange girl with incredible power who is trying to make a place for herself in a world that does not want to give her room. I loved the exploration of her character and watching her grow throughout this story. Thorn, on the other hand… ugh. I mean, he was fine as a love interest, I suppose. He had plenty of great characteristics and wasn’t too perfect. But he was just… so dull! I don’t know why he felt so flat to me, but I had no idea why Victoria was so infatuated with him. Which was a problem since their relationship took up a good portion of the story.

Even with my constant eye-rolling at the romance, however, there was enough action and truly spine-tingling scenes to keep me flying through the pages. The monsters of this story feel so unique and I loved how the author brought them to life! I was more interested in learning about all the different creatures of the jungle than I was in whatever the hell Thorn and his crew were up to. The portions of the book that focused on Victoria, the creatures, and her powers were by far my favorite.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that kept me intrigued, even though I could have done without the romance.

the writing is the main culprit for this mediocre rating. Its repetitive, the prose/narrative is pretty weak, and it doesnt do a great job at supporting a unique concept overall. it creates more questions than answers when it comes to wildbloods, how they developed their “science” or why victoria is the strongest of them all. I didn't find her confinement to the tour company convincing, not to mention the boss and her ex are terrible two-dimensional villains.

Wildblood offers an intriguing premise with moments of interest but ultimately left me feeling underwhelmed and at times confused. The story follows Victoria, a Wildblood tour guide in the Jamaican jungle filled with supernatural dangers. While the character dynamic offers sparks of romance and adventure, the story itself presents many plot points including corporate corruption, magical abilities, and personal struggles. Despite its potential, the story felt overwhelmed by its own complexity, leaving me yearning for a more focused and cohesiveness.

This book is being voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and Lauren Blackwood.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded awesome and I love books that include magic. For the most part I liked the main character, Victoria . I also enjoyed the Jamaican inspired folklore.

I didn’t like the insta-love story between Victoria and Thorn. It happened way too fast and their love story seemed to be the main focal point of the book. The small bit of folklore in the book was great, I just wish there had been more. The ending also felt rushed and anticlimactic.

It’s not a horrible book, but it’s not a favorite for me. I’m not a fan of insta-love so that is probably one of the biggest turn off for me with book.

A gorgeous cover with a story and characters that frustrated me. I liked the beginning - as we're introduce to the jungle and Victoria and we can see how things work. However, just as quickly - the romance interested is introduced and I was just not feeling it. The arguing, the shocking deaths - it felt rushed and forced.

I really wish I'd liked this one more. The ending did wrap up well and I did like it, but what came before was too much for me to enjoy this one.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book

If I didn't have an ARC to review, I would have DNF this book halfway through. This book was all over the place and it just was worse and worse after the 50% mark.

I'm not going to go in too much details but one of the things I hated was the so-called "romance" between our main character Victoria and the gold miner who needed her to find his gold. He was greedy, selfish and the romance was so forced and unnatural it gave me the ick. Her calling him the love of her life after knowing him a few days was so ridiculous to me ! He's the only man who treated her somehow nicely and she fell over heels for him just for being nice ? Ughhh.

The world-building and the magic is still a mystery to me. There wasn't much of an explanation, if any.

This book was so bad I'm actually surprised since the very beginning had me curious but the characters and every interaction ruined the book for me. Also, the writing wasn't the best with all the expressions like "kiss my teeth", "beloved", "my boys" and more used way too many times.

**Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review this book even though it wasn't my cup of tea...**

I had been eagerly anticipating this particular book, but to my disappointment, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Despite my initial excitement, the end result failed to capture my attention or interest.

Very early DNF. i'm very picky with my YA since im out of that age range and I can't really do first person so i dnfed.