Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a YA Fantasy Romance set in the Jamaican jungle.

Exotic Lands Touring Company offers exclusive tours of the Jamaican jungle. They also kidnap children and force them to work for them.

Victoria, the most powerful Wildblood in the company, is one of these kidnapped children. Disappointed for not receiving the promotion promised to her, Victoria joins an ultra-risky jungle expedition with their new handsome and wealthy client Thorn. Thorn is a gold miner looking to reach some untapped gold deep in the jungle.

Victoria’s boss allows her to go on the condition that she makes her less-skilled ex-boyfriend look good on this trip.

Even though Victoria has strong ties to the jungle, it will be a dangerous expedition for everyone involved.

I was really expecting to love this one. And at the beginning, it was promising. The magic system seemed intriguing, the setting was atmospheric, and Victoria seemed like an interesting character. It discussed some serious topics such as human trafficking, SA, racism, and colonialism.

But everything was overshadowed, in my opinion, by the insta-love romance. Thorn and Victoria went from calling each other by their names to “beloved” in the blink of an eye. And honestly, nearly all of the men in this book are red flags.

So although it had a good start, I wish it delved a little deeper into some of the themes, as well as the magic system.

I enjoyed the author’s debut Within These Wicked Walls, so it’s a bit disappointing to give this one a lower rating.

If you don’t mind insta-love and love triangles, this book may work well for you.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me an eARC of this novel, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was...fine? I guess. Okay, you're right. I didn't like it and I'm trying to cover up my disappointment with placating words to myself. I really enjoyed Blackwood's debut novel and was super excited to see what she would come up with next. When I read the synopsis of this and saw sentient jungle, blood magic, and ghostly monsters, I was there. However, all these really cool aspects ultimately fell flat.

Wildblood could have used a little more time to develop. The plot vanishes halfway through the book in a puff of romance. A romance that is very much instant attraction and gave me little to no feels, but then proceeded to take up the plots space. And honestly I'm sometimes fine with insta-love, but this even felt like 1-100 in three pages. Which considering I think that both Victoria and Thorn had promise, is sad. It needed a bit more time to stew.

Speaking of stewing the worldbuilding and the magic system. The glimpses of the jungle we did get were really interesting. Flesh eating vines, deadly butterflies, shadow creatures, cat/wolf things... all super interesting and completely underutilized. Considering most of the humans seemed to kill each other instead of being eaten by the jungle, but I guess you can make an argument for humans being the most deadly creatures on the planet and what we do to the environment is tragic and all that jazz. I just wanted more of the jungle. The magic system was also never fully explained and thus felt underutilized as well. I didn't understand why Victoria was the strongest, how their limits before they raged were determined, or even the boundaries of what they could and couldn't do with it.

However, I think the thing that bothered me the most about this book is killing characters off by a villain just to cement how evil they are and then also backtracking it. Villains kill characters. Sure. But the reasons here just felt super flimsy and it happened twice very close together. It honestly just felt like the author clearing out characters so she wouldn't have to keep track of them anymore. But also, for one of them the villain was like, "It was an accident." Yeah, just embrace it or don't do it in the first place. The author was generally walking back how evil he was to just make him damaged because of his traumatic childhood. Which, sure, that's valid, but it didn't feel like his actions were always consistent then.

There are some really dark themes in this book, with mentions of rape and physical abuse, blood, gore, trauma, and death. So, I would say not maybe for younger teen readers. Also, there is a sex scene. It's not particularly descriptive, but it does exist. It also takes place during a somewhat questionable emotional time (which is addressed, but not well in my opinion) and then a weird conversation about it happens between the main character and earlier mentioned villain character.

Overall, I would recommend this for people who don't care if the romance overshadows any other plot, or who like sentient jungles, or who don't mind dark themes. Oh, and if you don't care that someone "kisses their teeth" every five pages. Some readers may find it worth looking into for the way that it talks about race, colonization, and environmentalism. Ultimately this is a story of a woman fighting for herself and her future and learning that she is strong enough by herself. However, it just wasn't for me. I hope that other readers enjoy it, but I would say her debut is stronger.

3.5/5

Wildblood is an exciting, fast-paced adventure for lovers of YA fantasy with a hint of thriller/horror! I was very captivated by this story from the first page, although the last 25% had some pacing issues. Even so, it was hard for me to put this book down!

Overall, I really loved the fantastical world Blackwood created within the jungles of Jamaica, including all the interesting (and terrifying) creatures. Victoria was also a wonderful MC - I was very empathetic with her struggles and I really felt her connections with the other characters.

I was so excited by the premise of this book and very excited to be able to read an early copy. I loved the eco-tourism themes in this book and the lush worldbuilding — Wildblood is, in my opinion, strongest when it’s playing in the worldbuilding sandbox and expanding the mythology of the jungle.

Victoria was fun and spunky, and i appreciated having a character who was both headstrong and a caretaker for her found family. I didn’t quite buy the romance between her and Thorn, but I did enjoy watching Victoria navigate her changing priorities against a life or death backdrop.

Victoria works or better yet is mildly enslaved by Exotic Lands Touring Company where several other Wildbloods like herself are kept, under the threat of death if they tryto leave. Wildbloods hold a type of magic in their veins that they refer to as their science. Victoria was kidnapped at the age of 6 and began taking people on tours through the Jamaican jungle. A Wildbloods unique magic is used to keep the tourists safe. Victoria wants a promotion to be able to get her and her brother Bunny safe. This life is not the life for Bunny he will burn out from his science far too soon if she doesn't stop him. She always thought she would have Dean by her side but after a horrible turn of events one night worth the boss she hates everything about him.
When Thorn comes to the munchkin in search of rumored gold Victoria falls hard. It's her chance to make a name for herself and to wrestle the promotion away from Dean. The jungle is a dangerous place full of unknown monsters. Will Victoria achieve her goals or will the charming Thorn distract her from her goals, losing those she loves in the process,.

Thank you #netgalley and #Wednesdaybooks for the eArc of #Wildbloods!

Wildblood is an interesting complicated story that follows Victoria into the depths of the Jamaican jungle as a guide for some rich fools in search of gold. Victoria is not a normal girl, she is a wildblood and stronger than the others that she works with. And the jungle has a sentience of it's own, and suffers no fools.

This second novel by Lauren Blackwood has some of the same elements from Within These Wicked Walls, namely; a strong female, pseudo-historical fiction, something of the supernatural, and a little bit wild.

I enjoyed the novel, there were some bumps along the way that I thought dragged down the story; a complicated plot, a convoluted sub-plot, slightly repetitive - especially regarding wildblood, and what feels like a forced love-triangle.

I really loved the jungle, it truly is one of the main characters of the story, and I loved the ending of the book, I was really worried that Victoria would make a bad choice.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the free e-ARC, I'm leaving my honest review voluntarily.

In Wildblood, Lauren Blackwood constructs a compelling character analysis against the backdrop of a Jamaican jungle filled with spirits, ghosts, and monsters. The “Wildblood” people can use “blood science” as tools or weapons, shaping freshly drawn blood into whatever they need. Their ability naturally causes them to be feared and shunned in normal society, but one man finds a use for them- as tour guides in a deadly island jungle.

Our heroine Victoria was kidnapped by the evil boss at the age of 6 and forced into indentured servitude- paid a pittance for dangerous work with the lure of freedom dangled like a carrot. In the most dangerous tour guide job yet handled by the company, Victoria tries to find a way to freedom both for herself and her fellow Wildbloods.

The story uses the classic trope of throwing a large group of people into a dangerous situation together and watching what unfolds as character’s personalities and intentions play off each other. The question of who lives and dies quickly becomes inconsequential as Victoria discovers who she can trust and how much of her humanity she’s willing to sacrifice to gain her freedom.

There is a lot of death and mutilation in this book but it isn’t glorified or overly detailed, so it shouldn’t be an issue for readers looking to avoid gory descriptions. The supernatural elements were intriguing: spirits who eat souls, ghosts who never cease their wandering, and classic big-toothed monsters. The blood magic doesn’t specifically deal with witchcraft or voodoo, but feels adjacent to it. The jungle is truly alive, with the trees able to communicate to its inhabitants and the river as the manifested essence of a particular spirit.

The ending was perhaps unconventional, but I thought it was the only conclusion that made sense for Victoria. She had some remarkable character growth, spurred by her interactions with other characters, which made for a compelling case study of repression. I would certainly be willing to check out Blackwood’s first novel if it’s anything like this one, and keep an eye on her future works as well.

Content Warning: violence, death, abuse, mention of rape, forced labor, kidnapping

I loved this author’s last book, Within These Wicked Walls, and wanted to see what new world she created with Wildblood. Here’s what I thought:

+ There is a tour in Jamaica that takes people through a magical, dangerous jungle. Only people with magic in their blood or blood science can take these people safely through the jungle. The most powerful person at this tour company is Victoria. I thought this idea of blood science was very unique and creative. It’s basically blood magic, but I guess more modern.

+ The characters are very unique and intriguing. All of the young people working in this tour company have been kidnapped and abused – it’s a pretty awful place to be, but because they have been abused – they feel hopeless in ever leaving. Victoria is our heroine, Dean is a villain but not the only one – but he is the one we get a clear look at what abuse and fear does to a child when they grow up, Thorn is a wealthy man who pays for a tour and sees this blood science for the first time and all the other side characters are fascinating as well! There is betrayal and mistrust throughout the whole story.

+ The setting of this jungle filled with monsters is a character in itself and it heightened the tension in the story. I really enjoyed the unique world-building.

+ I like Victoria’s character growth. She learns to lead and fight back against her abuser. Also the twist in the story is pretty cool, I was not expecting it at all.

~ I don’t mind insta-love but I felt this one is totally rushed. Thorn and Victoria just met and are saying I love you by the end of this tour and story. I did like how it ended because Victoria really needs to learn who she is before settling down but it was definitely a quick relationship. I didn’t quite feel the love between them.

~ There are so many dark themes in this book – these kids have been abused so badly by their boss. Victoria is even raped by him. I’m usually okay with these themes but Dean’s treatment of Victoria was so toxic, I felt ill for her. I felt horrible for Dean too and all of them who worked for their evil boss.

~ I wish we learned more about blood science. Also there was a bit of too much repetition with the phrase “kiss my teeth”.

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:
*dark story, dangerous jungle, blood magic
*there is backstabbing, mistrust and an interesting twist in the story

Why you might not want to read it:
*insta-love

My Thoughts:

Even though I had some issues with the story like the insta-love and wanting more information on the blood science, I actually read this book in two days because it was unique and intriguing. There are lots of trigger warnings in this one though. It is definitely a story with heavy themes but I like how it turns out in the end. I look forward to reading more from this author!

3.75/5⭐️

Wildblood really thrived on its setting just like Within these Wicked Walls. The sentient jungle and Victoria’s connection to it was so cool. The animals were creepy and there was soul sucking spirit bison that was basically Victoria’s pet. I was so sucked into the jungle and I wish we had more of it, it was that cool. This story also delves into some of the horror’s of English and American colonialism so it had quite a few emotional moments. Victoria and her friends go through a lot of trauma both before and through the book so I definitely recommend this for older YA readers.

The romance for me really fell flat for me. Thorn was charming yes but because of Victoria’s history with abuse from men it sometimes felt like his charm was a bit manipulative. I also just didn’t sense any chemistry. Like okay I get he’s charming and likes to crack jokes but what else? We got a little bit more of his character in small moments but it wasn’t enough for me to convinced they belonged together. It was also very insta-lovey which a personal pet peeve of mine. So, at the end I was very happy with Victoria’s decision.

Tw: physical abuse, (off page, past) rape, SA, colonialism, colorism, racism (mentions of lynching), graphic death, emotional abuse

A solid second novel by Lauren Blackwood. I was hesitant only because I loved WTWW so much but I truly enjoyed this story.

I will say the love interest was a little too Insta-lovely for me,

I enjoyed that Blackwood touched on colonialism, abuse, and the lengths we go to for family. The magic system was very interesting and I enjoyed discovering the relationship dynamics between the wildbloods.

I think that lovers of Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray would love this story as I found the vibes to be similar.
Lauren Blackwood remains an instant buy author for me!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the e-ARC

“You are no lesser person because of what you survived. Your faults, vices, trauma, pain… those make you as much wholly you as all the joy and talent and love and vibrancy in you.”

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Deep in the jungles of Jamaica lie all sorts of strange magical monsters. Tourists who wish to journey on the island hire a tour company where the guides are children with a unique blood based magic. When one large tour group comes to the island, Victoria sees this as her chance to get promoted. The hurdles she will go through along the way will test her like never before.

Whew, I’m not sure this one is really YA. The level of violence and abuse is serious. It borders at times on torture porn. Don’t get me wrong, it was unique and empowering but I’m not sure this one will be for everyone. Victoria and her friends have been through some horrible things and are desperately looking for a way out. For some of them, the only way out is death. There is a high body count in this one and some of them will break your heart!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
As she did with her debut, Lauren Blackwood once again delivers another immersive historical fantasy with Wildblood. This one is centered around the Jamaican jungle, with very obvious mystical parallels to the real impact of colonialism and eco-tourism. I appreciate how Blackwood captures the lushness of the jungle setting, juxtaposed against the depravity of the touring company’s actions.
Victoria is a great lead to follow for this story. I love exploring her complex relationship with the jungle landscape: on the one hand, it’s being used and abused by the Exotic Land Touring Company, who also kidnapped her as a child and abused her. But I also love her own personal relationship of comfort with it, in spite of it all. And I love that she still had spunk and determination in spite of all she’d been through, and didn’t allow those things to keep her down or complacent.
I had mixed feelings about her romance with Thorn. He presents himself well, and I do believe Victoria does deserve happiness after all she’s been through. However, it took a while for me to truly trust him, because of what she had been through.
This is a solid second novel, and I am eager for whatever Lauren Blackwood writes next! If you’re looking for a fun historical fantasy with similar aesthetic vibes to Beasts of Prey, that also touches on the impacts of colonialism and abuse, I recommend picking this up!
CWs: depictions of blood, gore, physical/sexual assault, sexual trauma, and death.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

This book excelled in setting and cultural references. It fell a bit short in romance and general storyline though. Which was a shame, I was really excited about it based on its description. Jamaican folklore is something I haven't read about yet, so I got to be introduced to it in this book.

So where to start? I'll start with the setting, which goes hand in hand with the folklore, since I greatly enjoyed that part of the book. The jungle in this book is full of creatures, all of them dangerous, all of them intriguing. From the description and origin stories of the ghosts (and their habits), to the more whimsical animal creatures, to the spirits/gods of the jungle, they were all interesting. It goes without saying that 'River Mumma' was my favorite.

Unfortunately, the characterization and plot took me out of the book quite a bit. There's some stuff that's simply unexplainable that I couldn't get over as I was reading. I'll try to keep it high-level, but for those readers who don't like spoilers, proceed with caution.

We're introduced to the main guy who runs the touring company that basically has Victoria as an indentured servant (not a slave because they apparently get paid? But not free to leave either?). He's definitely a bad dude; but somehow manages to do terrible things to her without her retaliating because she grew up in that environment? But there's others that didn't? And their job is to protect using their magic when they're on tours, but for some reason can't use that same magic to escape, even if they haven't been raised in that life and wouldn't have the qualms on looking for freedom. And the tours themselves? Why exactly are so many people just trekking through the middle of this jungle, on an established road, when they can just boat around? I never really fully understood the dynamics that kept this world going.

The characters suffer the same fate. We've got this wild romance happening, that's a bit too quick with no real basis for its formation. We've got a dude spouting out his beliefs on Christianity and then really throwing it to the wind with another unmarried person (which good for them, it's just really weird juxtaposed with the previous discussion(s) of religion). And his drive for continuing on the mission, despite everything that is happening, is also quite baffling since he's presented as a 'good guy'. I guess the treasure is just that dang good? I learned about 'kissing teeth' as well, and while I was glad I could google and understand exactly what that meant (it can be very specific culturally), the characters did it A LOT. Even thinking about it culturally, if you replace with a "sigh" instead, it shows you just how often the characters were performing one move, too repetitive.

About halfway through the book Victoria changes and almost becomes a deux ex machina type of plot derailing. The book itself has the tone change and the ability change, and it becomes rushed and a bit strange. Although I will say, I actually liked the ending, even if I was slightly confused on how we got there.

I've heard her first book is great, and I think I'd be interested in reading it based on the ideas here, but this one needed cleaned up and refined a bit more to consolidate its ideas.

Review by M. Reynard 2023

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

From the very first chapter I knew this book was going to be absolutely amazing! The writing is so easy to read, but it's also so immersive that it feels like you're right beside of Victoria. She is such a strong character, and her story arc was one that I fell in love with the more it unraveled. I was so weary of what her ending would be, but it was absolutely perfect, and I couldn't have asked for more from it.

This book deals with some very heavy topics, including abuse, slavery, racism, and yet through it all, such great hope and light comes from Victoria and her journey. She navigates a world that is far more dangerous for her than the jungle that everyone else deems the evil of the world. She really subverts the conventional beliefs and finds beauty and strength in the parts of the world that society wants to shun.

And in the middle of al of this is a beautiful world full of the most stunning creatures and landscape.

If you're a fantasy lover, please get your hands on this book!

"No one escapes the Exotic Lands Touring Company, unless one would call deciding how they'd like to die "escaping"..."

For a young woman kidnapped at such a young age by an abusive boss, who wields complete and utter control over the Wildbloods he's kidnapped, Victoria personifies strength. She's leading a tour that will make or break her, and she has to work with the boy she hates as much as her boss. Dean betrayed her a year ago, and working with him is the last thing she wants to do. This tour will be more dangerous than anything she's ever done because the jungle will exact its price.

"Because a year feels far longer when you're the one living with it."

The writing had a few stumbles, but the storyline and message overpowered any of them. Touching on so many topics such as colonialism, slavery, abuse, and more, Blackwood told these tragedies in a fantasy setting, with blood magic. In addition to Victoria's strength, I loved the jungle. Everything they came in contact with, from River Mumma to Biggs, was so creative. The danger is continuous, it's always something new, and you're waiting to see what comes next and how they will handle it.

This does have insta-love, but it was done well. Victoria is the epitome of love, and we see that in all her relationships. This is such a lovely read.

Thank you, St. Martin's, for sending along an ARC.

What a solid waste of my time.

this book at first glance seems like a high stakes get lost in a jungle fantasy but that’s not what you get. You get these characters that seem so interesting but they’re so bland! There’s no depth to them. Especially the main character who goes through something horrific but it’s never elaborated on. You’re just told about it. And it’s supposed to make you have empathy for the main character but she has no personality. And the amount of times I read “kiss my teeth” made me want to scream. This book needs serious editing. I wanted more world building and more character development and better writing. Huge disappointment.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books/St Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"I have to rage, Victoria... Rage is all I have left."

If I had to read "so-and-so kissed their teeth" one more time...

Wildblood is Lauren Blackwood's sophomore book and overall it was a decent read. I really liked her debut book, Within These Wicked Walls, and I was looking forward to Wildblood. The cover is gorgeous and very eye-catching.

The premise sounded exciting and intriguing but, while I was reading, that intrigue began to dwindle at times. I liked reading from Victoria's point of view and I thought her character was well-written. Though, Victoria, and probably Dean, are the only ones who got most of the development. The other characters were okay but they needed more depth. Honestly I think the jungle got more development than the love interest, Thorn.

The romance is pretty quick between Victoria and Thorn. They are instantly attracted to the other and say "I love you" in a matter of days.

Wildblood has an interesting "magic system" and I did enjoy the connection Victoria has with the jungle.

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. General trigger warning for discussions of sexual assault.

I have mixed feelings about this book, and unfortunately they skew closer to disappointment. I was excited to read Lauren Blackwood's second novel after "Within These Wicked Walls", which I found to be a decent read and a good debut. That novel was a retelling of Jane Eyre, but I found it to be a pretty bare retelling - all that to say I was excited to read an original fantasy of hers. "Wildblood" had the foundations of a fantastic fantasy - a lush jungle setting with all kinds of demons and monsters, a jungle that is, in a way, its own character, blood magic - it sounds amazing! Sadly, the jungle ends up being a background setting for a nonsensical instalove plot.

We get random scenes with monsters in the jungle, we hear how dangerous the jungle is, there's a bunch of death, but we barely get to know it. This novel could have taken place almost anywhere. They're hunting for gold, or something? It's the driving point in the novel - the whole reason they're on this super dangerous expedition - and we hardly touch it. It's such wasted potential. Tell me about the jungle instead of how so-and-so kissed their teeth.

I don't care about Victoria's relationships with anybody, but least of all Thorn! You don't know this man. We NEVER know this man. I've finished this novel and I know nothing. We really don't even know a thing about the stupid gold he was hunting. "Beloved" this and that bro it's been like a day! At least make it lust motivated or something - that would've been more interesting and frankly believable.

The end of the novel also feels abrupt. We could have spent so much more time in just about every aspect instead of getting a surface level exploration.

The one thing I felt the novel did fairly well was discussion on trauma and healing and still processing trauma, even a year later. Without spoiling too much, Victoria was sexually assaulted prior to the beginning of the novel (about a year earlier) and much of her thought process, how she interacts with other characters, is informed by this event. I would have loved even more, because I thought it was something Blackwood did well.

Overall it's not a bad book... but it wasn't giving what I wanted, and I wish it had given more.

Victoria is a part of the Exotic Lands Touring Company - a business that escorts tourists across the untamed and very magically wild jungles of Jamaica. However Victoria is not your average person, she and the rest of the guides are Wildbloods and they are treated essentially as slave labor - all because they have magic literally in their veins. Enter Thorn and his crew looking for passage to find gold in the jungle. Victoria goes from her normal life of abuse and neglect to teaming up with her former best friend to ensure the wealthy gold miner makes it in and out alive.

This novel is truly one of self discovery and love in the most dire of circumstances. Victoria and her friends’ lives are hard and in constant threat of the jungle, their boss, and even of themselves. Her journey both physically and mentally through the jungle under the pressure of Thorn’s requests causes her to question all that she sees in the world. I very much loved the personal growth she experiences. I do, however, wish that the novel had put more into world building and depth of characters. I felt like I was just getting a general overview of this massive, magical, complex and very interesting world that the story takes place in. Overall an enjoyable read (be careful of triggers related to violence). 3 stars.

Review based on an Uncorrected Digital Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press - Wednesday Books and NetGalley. Thank you!

3/5 stars! I had such high hopes for this book. The premise reminded me a lot of the character Yelena from "Poison Study." Yelena was someone kidnapped from her family and endured horrible things, who ended up working for the kingdom that had contributed to this and had magic and jungle skills in her blood. So my bar was extremely high heading into this read. There are parts of the story that are successful. The characters are developed and have their own personalities and trajectories of growth through the story. And the cover was beautiful. But the downfall was that the storyline didn't measure up. I found myself bored with the storyline. Overall, great concept, good characters, but didn't pay off in the storyline.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily