I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This book started out really strong, the premise of the Wildbloods and blood science is really interesting as is the sentient jungle, however I'm left with alot of unanswered questions at the end. The concept of the Wildbloods is really unique but we never get any explanation as to how they came to be or why they exist. You are just supposed to accept them and their abilities and therefore accept their poor treatment in the touring company. We never really come to understand where each of the characters come from other than they were kidnapped to become part of the touring company and to work for the abusive boss. I love a unique magic system or ability, but I need a little bit of an explanation as to how it works, and we don't get any explanation or tie to the local folklore. I believe the entities encountered in the jungle are tied to Jamaican folklore, but we don't get much background on this either. I don't mind doing my own research on myth and lore, but I feel like the author could have given us a bit more to go on here. I kept hoping that it would come up as the tour proceeded through the jungle, but those details never came to light.

The world building was great. The descriptions of the jungle and the entities that the tour group encounter are well done. After about the first half of the book, the focus of the plot shifts to the strange insta-love romance between Thorn and Victoria, and her trauma filled relationship with Dean. This created what felt like a love triangle, and I feel that the social commentary and character development aspect of the book was overshadowed by the romance tropes. I will say that I enjoyed the ending, and how the author brought things full circle.

This is a pretty brutal book, with lots of trigger warnings. The story is filled with symbolism and trauma. I believe this is YA, so the descriptions of events aren't overly graphic, but the situations and topics lean a bit more on the mature side. There is SA, physical and mental abuse, violence, blood magic, blood in general, slavery, death, and probably some others. The author is trying to address some pretty complex topics within a SFF setting. While I think the execution suffered bit by tackling too many tropes, it was an interesting story overall.

First of all, I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I adore Lauren Blackwood's writing style and prose and Wildblood shines with fortitude, and grit. I felt as if I was in the jungle standing next to Victoria as the sentient jungle told her where she belonged. . .right there in the midst of it all. The social commentary and little bits of beauty and ugly sewn through out the story are delightfully well done. The relationships, the danger, the very real slavery of Victoria and the other Wildbloods. . .it's wrought with tension and perfectly crafted. I loved the love, but mostly I loved Victoria and the ending of this novel was something I was proud to have been apart of and read, Blackwood has knocked her second novel out into the stratosphere and I hope it is read by many. The world building, setting, love story, and self-discovery of Victoria is everything I could have asked for and more.

1.5/5 stars rounded up.

Don't have much to say about this one, to be honest. The insta-love and lack of worldbuilding really drag this one down. I kept getting watered down Deadman Wonderland vibes, except it's a jungle rather than a prison, the blood powers are way under utilized here, and the characters are so much less interesting and complex. I couldn't even tell you what exactly Wildbloods are because the romance takes precedence over all else here, nor what exactly makes Victoria the most special one outta all of them. Also Victoria using sex as a coping mechanism after witnessing the death of her what essentially was surrogate son? Really, Blackwood? And that's not even getting into the weird implications of dubious consent regarding freshly-revived-but-memoryless Samson getting immediately whisked away to become River Mamma's husband. There's just so much bad and confusing messaging in this book.

<i>First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

The idea for this story? Intriguing. The execution? Lacking.

My biggest complaint is one I saw on other reviews - it makes no sense to me that someone would just instantly fall in love with a guy they don't know under these circumstances. Also, the number of times the author wrote "God, he was cute" was... too high for me.

I also wish we had gotten a better explanation or a deeper dive into the "magic" or "science" of this world, which I felt was really just glossed over and was just a neat thing happening in the background, but didn't actually matter for the story itself.

I had really high hopes for this book, but it really just sort of fell flat for me. I have to give it points for the location and the setting of the story, because that was new (to me) and original... But overall, this book left me wanting.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a dark fantasy story about magic wielders called Wildbloods and their job leading people through the dangerous jungles of Jamaica.

Actual Reading Experience:
This story kept me on my toes, trying to guess what would happen at each juncture. The thrills kept the pages flipping faster and faster, making the book so hard to put down even when I didn't have a choice in the matter. I love these qualities in a dark fantasy as much as in any thriller.

The magic system, albeit vague, is fascinating and unique. I had the gist, even if I didn't understand the specifics. The world-building, however, is very detailed and immerses me in the jungle immediately. I could feel the humidity and smell the smoke that distracted the insects. The world-building is pretty exceptional.

The only issue I had with the story was the romance – how fast it began and progressed. I wanted more of a happily ever after, but no path would have taken this story to that happy place. It reminded me of Pocahontas' story in many ways, as it had no direction that would have led to that romantic happily ever after.

Characters:
Victoria is a very intriguing character, and the more and more I learned about her, the more fascinating she became. Her backstory is slowly unveiled as the tale progresses. However, I still had questions and wanted to know more about her early years before she came to the touring company. She is strong in character and magic, unwaveringly loyal and fearless, and no one is more determined.

Narration & Pacing:
The pacing is quick from beginning to end. All of the dangers helped to keep it that way, as the characters faced challenge after challenge as they got further into the jungle. The POV stays on Victoria as she narrates the story in first person. As I said before, she is an intriguing character. That quality bleeds through to her narration giving the story a magical quality it wouldn't have otherwise had.

Setting:
The story is set in Jamaica during the Victorian era, but most of the time, the story feels outside of time and place. In the jungle, there is no such thing as social conventions that dictate clothing styles and other acceptable ways of life. The jungle is full of dangers- lethal animals, angry spirits, and a goddess who wants people out of her jungle. There is no end to the dangers.

Read if you like:
Dark fantasies (significant thriller component)
Magic
Strong female characters
Ratings:

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook and reader copy of Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood in exchange for an honest review. This was a fantastic book and I'm so glad that I got the opportunity to read it early. I grew up in the mountains and spent a lot of time in the forest and understand the draw to it, even though Victoria is from the jungle, it's still nature. This book was very well written and it was very clear to picture. Also, I felt the characters were very believable, well developed and relatable.

My favorite part of Wildblood was the world and the magic system. We’re immediately introduced to the concept of Wildbloods and their position as part of a touring company to protect tourists with their magical abilities from the Jamaican jungle, which is filled with magic and monsters.

Personally, I loved the worldbuilding in this book and the way that the magic is woven in the world and the stories. I enjoyed many of the characters, and the plot was filled with twists and turns as the group at the center of the story descends deeper into the jungle.

I enjoyed Lauren Blackwood’s previous book, and there were certainly elements of this book that I loved as well. Overall, I found this an easy read, though the writing style for the main character could get repetitive at times. My biggest complaint was the instant love element to the plot. This is a trope that I typically don’t seek out, and I liked the romance better in the second half of the book once it had some extra time to develop and didn’t feel as forced or as instant-love.

Warning: This book discusses some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers including forced labor and violence.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm sad to say it but I think had the setting, and some of the magic and wildness of the jungle -- at least in the first half -- not been so interesting, this rating would be even lower.

It didn't take long before every chapter, every page, every interaction between these cardboard characters, became a chore. It became a trial not to DNF around the 30% mark, and maybe it would've been earlier had I not chipped away at this so slowly after initially picking it up, but I convinced myself I could at least try to skim through a little further to see where things were going and, unfortunately, eventually read through to the end. I'm not sure why I bothered.

No, sorry, I do know why. Because I enjoyed the author's debut so much.

This did have a few good things to offer outside of the setting; it also talks about colourism, human trafficking, and more, but it quickly shifted gears to focusing on a stuttering girl getting starry eyed over her love interest. Complete with confessions of feelings and love after two days.

Sorry, miss me with this. I already had one foot out of the door but this was too much. Especially with the whole evil ex dynamic and.. yeah, no.

Victoria's character see-sawed all over the place and there were too many men involved, plus a pseudo-brother/son who she seemed willing to do anything for and who just mostly slept the whole time. I truly have no idea what was going on with these characters and why. But I think in general there just wasn't a solid running vibe because the latter half of the story goes off the rails; both in plot and tone. Sometimes jokey, sometimes angsty, quick to forgive, quick to abandon things it had spent a lot of time and energy setting up.. it was all over the place.

I am hugely disappointed by this but mostly disappointed in myself for not just putting it down and walking away instead of pushing on to make it work. Do not recommend.

1.5 stars

Lauren Blackwood’s ‘Wildblood’ is an enthralling, uniquely crafted fantasy set in Jamaica in the 1800s.

Victoria is a Wildblood, which means she has heightened abilities that are referred to as “blood science.” Kidnapped at the age of six, Victoria has “worked” for the Exotic Lands Touring Company for the past 12 years. Denied a promotion, Victoria still manages to gain a spot on the next expedition into the jungle, guiding a gold miner named Thorn and his team. Victoria and Thorn have an instant connection, but the jungle has made it clear that this expedition isn’t welcome. Victoria will have to decide whether or not she should stay with a corrupt company, or make the bold decision to try to escape… even if it costs her her life in the process.

One of the standouts in this book is the richness of the lore. I was captivated from the very beginning, and loved the connection that Victoria has with the jungle and the river. Blackwood’s prose lends itself well to the descriptions of the jungle, which is very much a character in the novel.

Victoria’s character arc is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as she deals with intense trauma and loss. (And I will mention here that if SA is a trigger, be aware that this book delves into a specific act of SA that occurs off-page but is referenced throughout.) Themes of racism and enslavement are also explored in ways that feel universal and still-timely, even though this book takes place in the past.

And one of the best parts about the book is its ending. I loved the direction that Blackwood chose to take. I’m still thinking about it, and the story as a whole days later. If you’re looking for a wholly original read steeped in interesting lore and fantasy, you are going to love this book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Wildblood
Author: Lauren Blackwood
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she’s worked as a tour guide ever since with a team of fellow Wildbloods who take turns using their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.

When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion to team leader in favor of Dean, her backstabbing ex, she’s determined to prove herself. Her magic may be the most powerful on the team, but she’s not the image the boss wants to send their new client, Thorn, a renowned goldminer determined to reach an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle.

Thorn is everything Victoria isn't - confident, impossibly kind, and so handsome he leaves her speechless. And when he entrusts the mission to her, kindness turns to mutual respect, turns to affection, turns to love. But the jungle is treacherous, and between hypnotic river spirits, soul-devouring women that shed their skin like snakes, and her ex out for revenge, Victoria has to decide - is promotion at a corrupt company really what she wants?

This started off great: vibrant characters, fascinating setting, interesting backstory. And then, about a third of the way in, it lost most of its cohesion. Everything---characters, actions, reactions, plot---seemed to become just random. Suddenly, Thorn was a “Christian”—when there’d never been any mention of faith in the story at all (And, I have to say, he was a Christian in name only, because he was still okay with murder, violence, and random sex—while claiming to be a changed man.). Dean, who had not shown even a glimpse of being anything other than a jerk, suddenly had noble reasons for his horrible behavior.

We get a revelation (actually, two) about Victoria’s history that changes everything, including the worldview of the setting, yet there’d been no hints of anything before. In short, this just did not work for me. If there’s been some breadcrumbs cropped along the way, this all would have been fine, but I felt like the author kept writing herself into a corner or against a wall and had to just pull something out of a bag.

Lauren Blackwood lives in Jamaica. Wildblood is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

AS CAWPILE:
Characters: 8 | Atmosphere: 9 | Writing: 5 | Plot: 7 | Intrigue: 8 | Logic: 5 | Enjoyment: 9
Total: 7.29 / 4 Stars

Wildblood was well-written and had an interesting concept. I enjoyed learning about the world that these characters came from. However, the romance felt oddly rushed considering our main characters' trauma. While that trauma and the panic attacks and such were handled well, it still felt rushed. There also was this bouncing around on ideas without really ever diving deeply into them. From colonizing to assault to racism- all of it thrown into the book and would have fit well into the book if it was addressed more thoroughly. Yet, it felt like it was added in for the reader's awareness without fully digging into it at any time. I'll admit this isn't my area of expertise, nor my place to speak on it, so this wasn't a part of my rating fully.
Wildblood was an interesting read, the pacing was quick and it was hard to put it down. I had a lot of fun reading it.

Lauren Blackwood is a master at weaving her narratives. Not only does she create brilliant, willful, empathetic main characters like Victoria but her settings are just as vibrant. I could read a dozen books written within the tangles of this jungle. This is a book that dives into themes of colonialism, racism, slavery, and trauma. The story is tense and atmospheric with a lot of heart that will keep you on the edge of your seat and engaged the entire way through. The romance is good but very much secondary to the other thematic elements so go in with those expectations and you'll come away with something that you'll be thinking about well after you turn the final page.

Rating: 4.5⭐️ rounded up

This is the second book I read by this author, and I am once again amazed by how she weaves folklore and trauma together to create deeply meaningful stories. If you get into this book as a fantasy romance, you might be disappointed, because it isn’t really that. This is a story about racism, colorism, ecotourism, colonialism, trauma and healing with fantastical elements that were inspired by Jamaican folklore and a sprinkle of romance that is mostly there as a vehicle for the MC.

Most of the negative reviews I’ve seen of this book couldn’t look past the weak romance, because it’s insta love, and a little cheesy/unbelievable at times. However, IMO, romance is not the point of this at all. Thorn’s love helps support her when she really needs it, helps her find her strength, and helps her heal, but it is not supposed to be the greatest deepest love of her life, that is the jungle. Though what I did really appreciate about Thorn was how fully he trusted her and gave her space to be the powerful badass Wildblood she is.

The jungle was probably my favorite part of this world, with its ghosts, deadly animals and a siren-like river spirit. I loved the bond between the jungle, its inhabitants and Victoria. I could read a whole separate cozy fantasy book set in this jungle.

Victoria is a great MC, she is strong willed, loving, selfless and powerful. She’s trying to survive in a brutal world. Her abusive boss, and ex best friend force her on an excursion that goes against everything she knows is right, but she also believes this is the only way to get those she loves a better life. Throughout this excursion, there are times you just want her to destroy every human, but her vengeance is more nuanced, as she’s trying to figure out where her moral lines lie. Her character development is beautiful to see from beginning to end, seeing her be able to assert herself, fully embrace her badassery, and heal at least some of her trauma in the process.

The other Wildbloods were very nuanced characters as well. All having gone through similar trauma, it’s difficult to put them in a box of good guy or bad guy, really making you feel the dilemma that Victoria is put in at times that she holds their fate in her hands.

That ending!! The ending completely makes this book. Everything I was unsure about while reading was wrapped up meaningfully at the end. It was beautiful and a little sad. But it was the best ending this book could have had, the one I would want for Victoria.

I found this book impossible to put down, with so many emotional, meaningful and gripping moments, I read it in one sitting. However it’s also not an easy read, it tackles a lot of deep and heavy issues, (you might want to check the CWs before reading).

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood

A haunted jungle full of dangerous monsters—animal and human.

This is a fantasy so real you’ll feel like you’re there. 18yo Victoria is the quintessential underdog in every sense but her talent and her heart always help her rise above the danger and evil around her.

Get ready to go on an adventure with an expedition searching for gold. Victoria is one of the reluctant guides, and when her warnings are ignored, mayhem ensues. The heroine is strong, beautiful, and haunted by her own demons. She wants to save everyone around her which is an impossible task, but she still tries which makes her a very likable character. There’s danger, death, and betrayal. I found this book both beautiful and heartbreaking, and this unique world is one I’ll never forget.

This is a stand-alone, but I didn’t want it to end. I hope we get to revisit it in the future.

The cover is gorgeous and fits the story perfectly.

Please note some of the themes in this story include racism, slave labor, sexual assault, abuse, and violence.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ebook copy prior to its release for an honest review.

I am really amazed at this author’s ability to completely keep my full attention. I loved the magic created in this story.

This was actually really on the darker side for YA, but I thought it all worked so well inside the magnitude of this story. I loved the uniqueness and the setting. Victoria was such a fierce protagonist who demonstrated strength and a ferocious love for those she cares about. Her ability to see the beauty in the magic she held was so powerful.

Victoria is a strong and incredibly capable protagonist, whom I really loved. All she wants is her freedom from the life she lives. She was forced into her life from the age of 6, and is now the strongest Wildbood. Her magic can protect people touring in the dangerous jungle in Jamaica. She knows her worth and she is determined to get what she deserves.

Her boss has different plans for her though and that sends her plans in a bit of a tailspin. Now she has to work with her dirty-dog ex, bringing a group of people looking for gold through the treacherous jungle.

I loved the relationship she has with the jungle and the understanding of its beauty and its danger. It felt like the jungle was its own fully formed character in the book.

One thing I didn’t care for is the absolute INSTANT fixation she forms for an American man she is guiding through the jungle. I didn’t like that we as readers were just supposed to feel the feelings she has for this man just on her say so, without really seeing WHY or what it is about him that she finds so alluring.

Amazingly unique premise and the story carried me along very quickly! The descriptions of the jungle came alive. That being said, I wanted more plot development and build for the MC’s connection.

This novel was beautiful in a way I had not expected. Rife with themes of colorism, colonization, slavery, child theft, and more, the novel manages to take all of these and weave in the story of a girl finding her independence. The story itself is unique, the magic is original, and our two protagonists (Victoria and Thorn) are beautiful in their own ways, different from what we traditionally see as fantasy protagonists. Both have a gentle way about their leadership styles and heroism. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

3.5 stars.

Lauren Blackwood created a captivating premise set in an original world. Victoria is a "wildblood" who leads tours into the dangerous Jamaican jungle, using her "science" to keep tourists safe. Wildblood follows Victoria on a dangerous tour, led by her rival, to lead a group of gold miners into the heart of the Jungle.

Blackwood excels when creating the dangers of the jungle. The horror elements as the characters travel are captivating, at once atmospheric and tense.

The magic system and early interpersonal relationships are the most remarkable elements of the novel, but they are not developed enough to achieve their full impact. The prose can be a bit clunky or awkward at times, particularly later in the novel when the romance develops (or rather, bursts forth fully formed).

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is an innovative YA fantasy that veers into NA territory. The story revolves around 18 year-old Victoria, a member of the "race" known as Wildbloods. Wildbloods have magical powers, but in their society, they are under the control of entities like the Exotic Lands Touring Company. When the opportunity arises for a promotion, Victoria will do whatever she can to secure it. But will her volatile and mysterious powers be enough to protect her from the terrors of the jungle?

Here is a dramatic excerpt from Chapter 1:

"“You are loved,” I whisper, even though I can’t quite reach his ear like I could a year ago. “Come back, my little Bunny.”
Maybe he can’t hear me—enough rain to drown the island pours from the sky, splashing through our glassless window as it slides off the tin roof, and he screams loud enough to wake the whole jungle, even with it a mile off.
His wild blood flashes near my face—a small, bright yellow crackle like lightning—but his blood science has never burned very hot, so I ignore it. I focus on keeping him pinned, even with his kicking and cries."

Overall, Wildblood is a wonderful fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and HBO's Westworld. One highlight of this book is the lovely jungle in Jamaica setting, which was equal parts entrancing and terrifying. I thought this was a very original setting for a YA book, and I even wonder if this was written to be more NA fantasy than YA fantasy. Another highlight of this book was the Black main character, The book comments on racial divides in the world today and in the past through the fictional society that Victoria lives in. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!

This was a hard one to rate. It's closer to 3 than a 4 but since we have no half stars... Anyhow thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The book has some very good ideas and some that needed developed more. For one, it was hard to tell the time period (at the end I figure it's late 1800s early 1900s maybe) but that's more incidental. The 'magic' is what bugged me. It felt only half developed. The titular wild bloods have 'science.' They can manipulate blood into weapons. How? We don't know. We do know that it is the reason they are scorned by society, at least here on Jamaica. It can also cause them to rage out of control, again an idea that feels half done. I wanted more on this.

Victoria, our point of view character, has been working for the touring company since she was six, as a 'rare beauty' tour guide. Trigger warning there is a huge amount of colorism in this and racism. So Victoria is light skinned (there is a scene where she's remembering having to scrape her skin raw because she got tanned darker for instance). The boss (one of the few white characters) is a nasty piece of work, not above kidnapping wild bloods and having them shot if they try to leave his business. He pays them a meager amount so it's 'not slavery' but it very obviously is. Dean, another wild blood and Victoria's ex, is being groomed to take over for the boss and has betrayed Victoria in the worst way.

Dean and Victoria are thrown together along with her wildblood friends Sampson and Bunny (who is in danger of raging and being put down) to escort a large group of miners into the jungle to get the legendary gold. Thorn, the leader of the group, is handsome and puts out a kind, understand vibe that Victoria responds to. She, however, doesn't want to be on this tour. The jungle, you see, is sentient. River Mumma is a literal female spirit/goddess who will kill intruders. THe jungle allowed the road to be put in but that's not where Thorn wants to go. Mumma has ties to Victoria and maybe that might let them live. Victoria doubts it.

The idea of a sentient jungle filled with various spirits from duppies (a poltergeist like spirit from Jamaican lore) to the spirits of deceased kids to a giant bull is a fantastic one. That's what I liked best, this jungle. It is dangerous. Victoria doesn't want to be doing this and especially doesn't want to be replacing Dean as boss knowing the trouble that'll cause, especially because she and Thorn are falling in love and the other wildbloods know this. (not a spoiler this is all in the blurb which is vaguely disappointing)

So let's talk this romance. Honestly it is another thing that felt a little half done. It seemed too easy and a little flat. That said, I liked Thorn and Victoria (though the constant my beloved stuff at the end made my teeth ache). Speaking of teeth, I really wish the editor would have removed a few 'kissing their teeth' bits. I've usually heard it sucking their teeth i.e. that sound we make usually when we're being a bit dismissive. That phrase is in like every chapter.

It ended as I thought it might. That said I wished Thorn had had a bigger reaction to realizing his and his partners deep pockets were funding what is basically child slavery. Over all, in spite of my quibbles I did like the book. One final trigger warning (and it is in the foreword of my arc) there is an off screen rape from about a year before the story and Victoria has a lot of unprocessed trauma relating to it.