I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately this wasn’t for me. The synopsis definitely had me intrigued. The beginning had me interested, but eventually it became difficult to keep reading. There were a few times I debated DNF-ing, but pushed through. I will admit I skimmed a lot. I’d say I wasn’t sure why I bothered, but I did enjoy the authors first book so I wanted to feel the same about this one. With all this being said, I am sure this will be amazing for others, it just wasn’t for me.

I'm quite a bit bummed as this one let me down in comparison to the debut. However, it was still an absolute delight in regard to the characters...just a bit predictable for my liking.

Victoria was kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company working as a tour guide. She has a powerful magic running throughout her and she’s determined to prove her worth.

I sadly wasn’t able to connect to the characters and the plot lost me at times, but I still loved the concept the story told. There was a lot of all over the place with the story itself so it was hard to focus. I struggled through this, sadly.

Lauren Blackwood is a master. This story manages to be a fantasy, adventure, some mystery, a little romance, and more wrapped into one. I would LOVE to see this story adapted. Our main character is complex and exciting, but relatable. The plot line is well-paced and engaging throughout.

I had read the author's debut novel and thought it was just ok. This follow up was so much better. I enjoyed the strong female character Victoria and how the jungle itself was a main character. I felt that some characters were not fleshed out enough but still enjoyed the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book! I was instantly drawn in by the characters and the world around them. Victoria is a wonderfully complex character who goes through a beautiful journey of remembering her past and coming into her own. I would absolutely recommend this young adult fantasy novel.

- Lauren Blackwood excels at writing fiery, headstrong young women who are determined to prove their worth and humanity. Victoria is a force, both in terms of her magic and her personality.
- The jungle and the creatures in it were gripping and terrifying. I was also a fan of the magic system in this book, in which certain people, Wildbloods, can manipulate blood into weapons.
- This book does get a bit bogged down in love triangles (literally every boy is in love with Victoria) but if you're willing to accept that, this book is definitely one to check out if you love dark YA/NA fantasy.

Hmm, I really liked the beginning of this, and the ending was pretty solid, but I got lost throughout the middle. I think it was partially pacing and partially me just not connecting that much with the writing style.

That said, this was a really awesome concept, and I think others will like this, but it wasn't for me.

I missed out on Lauren Blackwood’s debut novel from last year, Within These Wicked Walls, and I’m really regretting that right now as I sit here and digest Wildblood, because it took all of maybe two pages for her to wrap me around her finger with some of the most striking and lovely prose I’ve read in this genre in months, and then I was completely swallowed by the intense characterizations and intricate worldbuilding before I had even hit 5% into the book. I don’t know what to call Lauren Blackwood but some sort of dark fantasy enchantress who knows her mission, researches the heck out of it, and then sits down and somehow comes out the other end with intense tales of adventure, love, horror, evil, friendship, and self-discovery set in times past whose morals and other lessons could be applied to current times and not just to the times in which the books are set (in this case it seems to be Jamaica in the early 1900s).

Yes, I do have some complaints about this book: I didn’t like Dean and felt let down by the resolution to his part in the story. I also can both recognize the need (through the time period and where he comes from) for Thorn to be a Christian and to be vocal about it without being thrilled by it. I felt his psalms and prayers took up space in the book that could’ve been used elsewhere. I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority in this opinion. I also wasn’t happy with Blackwood’s decision to not have Victoria contemplate at any point in time what it would mean to leave the compound and go out into a world she’s never been in. She never asked any questions about what it was like out there, or what she would do, or if she would have to wear certain clothing. There were scenes that would’ve allowed for this kind of small talk and intimate conversation between her and Thorn, but it never happened. I don’t know if that’s because Blackwood meant for Victoria to not think about those things because of one reason or another, but by the time I got to the resolution of the book, I found myself facepalming a little because Thorn should have put some thought into matters. Then again, he seems the impulsive type.

The worldbuilding, the setting, the magic, the mythology, the folklore…it all added up to make this book so entrancing at times. If you add in Blackwood’s lovely prose, her ability to tap into her character’s inner narratives and emotions, and her ability to draw from the history her world is built on, it all makes for a bright, emotional, adventurous, fantastical read. I loved it.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley and the author. All views and opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Reads/Coming of Age/Folklore/Fantasy Romance/Historical Fantasy/Myth/Standalone/Dark Fantasy

I voluntarily read an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my thoughts. Thank you for the opportunity.

After enjoying Within These Wicked Walls, I was really excited to read Blackwood's follow up.. Wildbood has so much potential. The setting within a sentient jungle was my favorite and the most captivating part of the story. I can't say I have read anything like it. I was really intrigued by the science of the Wildboods and found myself wanting to see more about this element of the story. The characters and their relationships but at times it felt like the very insta-love relationship overshadowed all the really fascinating elements of the story. And usually, I am all aboard the insta-love train. I cannot put my finger on it because I was so rooting for them and for Victoria to have ALL the unconditional love but maybe what I think I wanted more of, was being able to see her stand in her power too.

The story itself, took a little bit to get into but I did appreciate the end.

I struggled with this one but you may not! Worth a shot and I will definitely check out the authors next book.

Content warnings: colonialism, colorism, racism, violence, sexual assault (memory of it, talked about and the impact), abuse, and mentions of lynching.

DNF at 59%

*sigh* I really liked this author's debut novel and I kept going with this one for so long because I really wanted it to work for me. Set in a magical version of Jamaica, the main character, Victoria, is a deeply traumatized teen girl with magic who was kidnapped as a child and forced to work as a tour guide through a dangerous jungle. All of which was definitely intriguing, but I feel like Wildblood isn't sure what kind of book it wants to be.

On the one hand, it's very dark and heavy because of the trauma Victoria has experienced. She has been abused in every possible way, and struggles to use her voice to defend herself partly because of a stutter, partly because she has been taught to just shut up and take it. So while she's technically very powerful, in her head she feels helpless. But then onto that intense to read trauma, we layer a tropey instalove story that feels very discordant and not taking into account the trauma Victoria is STILL suffering under, much less all the healing needed if she were to escape it.

I was struggling with all of that, but the thing that kind of pushed it over the edge for me (though your mileage may vary) is when the love interest (who I kind of don't like already) sort of acts like the voice of God that he hears speaking comforting things to Victoria. He's a Christian and that starts to become a bigger part of the story. Again, some readers may do fine with this, but as a former evangelical Christian unpacking spiritual trauma, this was just too much for me. So unfortunately, I'm going to DNF. Hopefully others will do better with this book. I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. I didn't like the main characters as I felt like they were written fairly young for the genre of the book and this led me to not like the book overall.

This book is arguably even more intense than Blackwood's excellent debut, so do know that going in. The premise is truly fascinating and ingenious, and I appreciated the worldbuilding with the 'like our world but with certain types of magic' historical setting. Overall, this is a great book, though (like others) I wasn't a huge fan of the romance plot that takes more of the forefront later on.

Excellent and exciting read. Lauren has the perfect recipe for creating a book in an alternate world. Engaging characters, a little spice/ romance, and some type of trouble brewing. This novel kept my attention and I could not wait to find out how things turned out. I love how she weaves in culture.

Great read!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC!!

Whew, this one was a difficult one for me to get into and I'm not quite sure what it was, but I'm heavily leaning toward the prose. It feels a bit repetitive at times and a bit listless at times, which is rough because the blurb heavily interested me.

The characters were interesting and well-defined, but I think it was the jungle that definitely took center stage. It called to me and kept me wanting more. The characters did have really intense bonds that I enjoyed reading about and wished that I had a bit more time with them.

This book also seemed like it sagged a bit around the middle, meandering along until it finally got to the end, which lowered my opinion of it a bit. While not something that I would recommend to all of my book friends, it is something that I would recommend under specific circumstances.

I loved Lauren Blackwood’s debut novel and Jane Eyre retelling WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS so when I was offered a chance to read her second book, I was over the moon. Blackwood has always dealt with serious and dark subjects but WILDWOOD was an entirely different ball game that I wasn’t quite prepared for.

The book follows 18-year-old Victoria, a magic user known as a Wildblood, who was kidnapped at the age of 6 and forced into a brutal contract as a tour guide in the Jamaican jungle. Determined to free herself and her friends after traumatic incident, she takes on an expedition to bring a team of gold miners to the heart of the jungle and hopefully win a promotion. But with her abusive ex taking over as team leader, a too charming gold miner giving her butterflies, and the jungle fighting back, Victoria has her work cut out for her to confront past trauma and figure out her future.

As the author’s helpful content warnings indicate, WILDBLOOD is primarily a story about Victoria dealing with past and present abuse. I can see how some people might enjoy this story and find empowering, but I just found it bleak and disturbing. I kind of understood the exploration of how abused person could become an abuser as well as the downfalls of revenge, but the way it worked out left a lot to be desired.

I had issues with the plot developments and the romance just didn’t work for me. Victoria’s love interest is portrayed as almost too good to be true, but I still felt like he didn’t respect her and their development was too sudden for my taste. [ If a man is attracted to you but still doesn't take you seriously when you tell him something is very, very wrong, is that really love? I found it hard to believe they fell in love so quickly even with these kinds of barriers. The fact that Victoria essentially used sex as numbing while going through grief/a complete breakdown also made me very, very uncomfortable. Considering this book is aimed at teens and young adults I'm even more nervous that the audience won't be able to identify how problematic and questionable this is. (hide spoiler)]

The ending was satisfying in some ways and unsatisfying in others. I appreciate that the author crafted several twisted villains, but I simply didn’t want to read about them. I get that it was important for Victoria to choose forgiveness in the end, but many of Dean's actions especially on the journey seemed pretty unforgivable to me. Setting aside his original crime, he repeatedly physically abuses Victoria and his violence has a sexual connotation. For example, he kisses her against her will in front of the group, he hits her in the stomach and abdomen, and touches her without her consent many times. Considering he knows (aka witnessed and enabled) the assault she experienced before the book began and knows how wounded she is, his actions seem extremely calculated to cause the most trauma for Victoria. I think it would be one thing if Victoria forgave him at the end because he was abused too, but the way they started joking around made me very uncomfortable.

One of my last significant issue with the book involved a side character and the issue of consent that involves major spoilers. After Victoria's friend Samson dies, she takes him to the river spirit (River Mumma) to be revived. River Mumma implies he's a "present" and that she will make him her mate. He wakes with no memories, goes off with River Mumma, and is implied to become her husband. Literally just a few days later when they meet again, Samson says he loves River Mumma and, when Victoria questions that love, Samson says he still argues with River Mumma and she doesn't control him. Therefore apparently they have a happy marriage? Despite the fact that he has no memories, no way to leave the river, and River Mumma is an all-powerful being? And it's been all of like 3 days?? This made me SO uncomfortable especially since the author portrays it as an okay situation. For a book that deals so explicitly with sexual assault I don't understand why this dubious consent wasn't interrogated or simply removed.

The setting and magic was one of the more compelling aspects and I wish we had gotten to see more of them. I think this might be someone’s ideal book but was not my cup of tea.

Please be aware of the trigger/content warnings the author has provided but I would also underscore that although the rape/sexual assault technically occurs before the story begins, it is revisited in very vivid flashbacks.

This is not like any other fantasy I've ever read before. Most of the action takes place in a Jamaican jungle but this is not our Jamaica. This jungle is populated with invisible and lethal predators. Victoria is the main character, a teenaged girl who who leads tours into the jungle. Victoria is also lethal - she possesses a rare ability in her blood that allows her to be more than a match for the jungle predators. But not all predators are jungle animals.

Victoria has vulnerabilities in dealing with other people. She was kidnapped as a child for her abilities, and has grown up in an environment that has kept her subservient and where she was betrayed both by her boss and by the person she most trusted. There is literally no one other than herself that she can rely on.

As one of the tour company's best, she was chosen to lead a prospector looking for a gold mine into the jungle. Thorn turned out to be different from any regular human she had ever met. He didn't look down on her, and treated her with respect and care that she had never experienced before.

I enjoyed this book very much, and was left with a lot of curiosity about the rest of this world. The ending was as unexpected as the rest of the story. I hope the author writes more books in this world.

I received a review copy from the publisher St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is an atmospheric, supernatural adventure that will lure you in, break your heart, and mend it back together again. This is more than a story of survival , but one of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment.

If you loved Within These Wicked Walls, Wildblood has many of the same signature gothic horror romance elements and influences that make Blackwood’s writing so compelling. The story may take place in the lush jungle, but it’s a setting that’s as haunting and terrifying as it is vibrant and beautiful.

If you love brooding heroines coming into their power, whirlwind romance, and writing reminiscent to classic authors like Daphne DuMarier or the Brontë sisters (but with a fresh, diverse spin and lots of lovely melanin) add this book to cart!


Things I loved:
- The main character Victoria’s journey from surviving to thriving: I loved seeing her come into her own, reclaiming her power and taking control of her life. So many people tried to control her and determine her identity and her life ( some who were even doing so with good intentions), but I loved how she fought for her freedom and independence on her terms. She went through so much (loss, abuse, and more) but her road to healing and recovery resonated. it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but it felt genuine and satisfying. It takes guts to break vicious cycles and Victoria’s character is someone to cheer for.

- The jungle: It had so many unique qualities and intricacies. I loved the compelling lore and the immersive world building. The sentience of nature and the dark supernatural undertones were the highlight of my reading experience. I especially enjoyed the scenes with the pickneys and river spirits

- The story’s resolution: The real love story was between Victoria and the jungle and it was perfect.That’s all I’m saying . I loved it.

Love meter: 🥰
Love at first sight
Sweet romance
Toxic / it’s complicated relationship
Bittersweet

WOW Factor : 🥹
A powerful, emotional rollercoaster.

Things to note:
- It started out a bit slow, but once it hit the 30% mark I was hooked.
- It’s marketed as YA but it reads for slightly older audiences in my opinion (pace and voice) but is still safe and appealing for teens

This story may include triggering content which includes but isn’t limited to:
Mention of and brief description of SA abuse, harassment, assault, mentions of lynching, verbal and physical abuse, blood, gore, enslavement, death, killing of animals, mention of miscarriage/child loss and child death, mild sexual content

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for a complimentary copy of this e-book. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

"Rage is all I have left."

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood was a mixture of intriguing and not what I expected. Victoria has a traumatic past that doesn't just begin with being taken from her family. Her unique wildblood magic is a coveted yet feared power that the Exotic Lands Touring Co. uses to their advantage. They are they only ones who can safely guide people through the deadly surrounding jungle.

Thorne: “But you do get paid?”
Victoria: “Yes. It’s not slavery.”
Thorne: “But it isn’t freedom, either.”
What does he want me to say? That the armed guards aren’t there to protect the tourists who pass through? That we’re paid barely a living wage simply as a loophole? That we’re only here because we were kidnapped?

That's just one layer of Victoria's backstory. She hides her features, body and familial history so others don't pay much attention to her beauty and actions. With the trauma of physical and sexual assault, we learn more of the horrors that have molded her persona. Her character is crafted well, the part that took away from her depth and the plot depth was the insta-lovestory. I also felt their wasn't a ton of history with the background of the wildbloods magic. It was one of the more captivating aspects I wanted to know more about.

The jungle set in a fantastical version of Jamaica was the highlight of the plot for me. The jungle world is depicted atmospherically as a sentient thing. From the trees to little bugs, there is a beautiful bond between Victoria and the jungle she respects. I could've enjoyed an entire novel based on this aspect and the wildblood history. For me, the love story diverted everything from what I personally thought was more riveting. I found it difficult to connect with the Thorne/Victoria dynamic.

I'm a big fan of Within These Wicked Walls and though this had a few elements that affected my overall thoughts, I'd still recommend this one to readers who enjoy a more new romance focused fantasy with important themes.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This was a lush and yet dark fantasy filled romance adventure.

This story follows Victoria who is a Wildblood(someone who can control blood). She was taken in, not willingly, at the Exotic Lands Touring Company to help protect those who want to tour the jungle. One day, a goldminer comes who wants to reach and mine the place known as the Gilded Orchard. Victoria thinks it is a terrible idea, but goes along if only to protect those she cares about. However, after the jungle gives three warnings via disasters, Victoria knows that none of them may get back alive, and now has to do everything she can to protect everyone and get back alive.

First off, I thought the idea, and concept of this book were very unique, and I really looked forward to this dark fantasy adventure into the jungle filled with terrifying and poisonous creatures and ghosts. I thought it would be similar to movies I've watched with people venturing into the Amazon and experiencing an adventure and horrors all at the same time. It definitely seemed that way at first, until the story progressed and it seemed to focus more and more on Victoria and her life and feelings and the romance, rather than the adventure and the jungle. I really did love the world and the concept of the story, I just did not quite enjoy the rest of it.

I will admit that I'm still unsure about the Wildbloods. I understand what they can do and that, as Victoria says, it's genetic what they have, these powers. However, I never understood why there are Wildbloods, or where they came from, or how one knows they are one. I mean, I never understood if Wildbloods are all over the world, or just appear randomly, I didn't understand that, I wish there was more detail on the story of Wildbloods and how they came to be, or if they're common everywhere. It's horrifying what they can do, but they are part of the unique concept of the story, and I love that, I just wish there was more detail about them.

I also did not like the romance. It was very much instalove and just not believable for me to the point that I just did not trust Thorn basically the entire book, it just seemed like there may be an ulterior motive. And it seemed like the romance took up a lot of the story! There was less adventure and less experiencing the jungle, and more romance and then sometimes horrors that would occur in the jungle. I wish there was more balance with the story, romance and adventure.

I did not connect with any of the characters. I appreciate that Victoria really grew and gained a lot of confidence as the story progressed, I just don't understand why she would like or trust someone who does not seem to listen to her when it truly matters(if you read the book, you would understand what I mean, I hope), and then definitely not trust someone she has known her entire life. It was very contradictory. I liked Thorn as a character, for the most part, but I just felt sus of him the whole time. Dean, I don't know how to explain how I feel about him. The things he did and does are horrid and yet, he seemed to me the most understandable character out of them all, and I'm not trying to justify his actions, but he just seemed to be more understandable with why he did what he did, and I always love a good redeeming arc for a character.

I did love the found family aspect in here with Victoria, Samson and Bunny. It was adorable, endearing and heartwarming, especially in such bleak circumstances they were all in.

Overall, I basically loved half the book, and the other half of the book not as much. I do recommend this book because I think many would love this story! Some parts just were not for me, and were lacking for me. And I will say the ending made sense to me!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.