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Within These Wicked Walls
What the heart desires, the house destroys...
Kiersten White meets Tomi Adeyemi in this Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre.
Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.
Kiersten White meets Tomi Adeyemi in this Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre.
Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2021
622 people are currently reading
43473 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Blackwood
7 books863 followersLauren Blackwood is the NYT/Indie Bestselling author of Within These Wicked Walls and Wildblood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,448 reviews
November 17, 2021
Horrific, claustrophobic, YA fantasy version of Jane Eyre meets Exorcist and Mummy series!What a tempting, astonishing, dreamy combination of extreme fans of horror and action packed fantasy premises like me!
I have to admit this is not Jane Eyre’s retelling: the only resemblances with the classic are claustrophobic mansion/ castle premise, names and resilient, young heroine.
Story is taken place a terrifying mansion: but instead of its claustrophobic theme and the master of the name is Rochester and heroine is abandoned young woman who sharpened her survival skills to stay alive, living at the streets, there are not much common things with Jane’s story and poor Rochester’s haunted life because of his wife.
Andromeda is raised by her master Jember who never showed any sign of affection for nearly 14 years, treated her harshly to force her toughen up at the young age. She’s only 19 and she leaves her home, penniless, suffer from hunger, taking the suicide mission to cleanse household of Magnus Rochester from the Evil Eye. 10 other debteras a.k.a exorcists like her took the same job and they died or they left the place without looking back before finishing their mission.
Andromeda has nothing to lose. She needs money. She needs a place to sleep and food to help her survive. Enigmatic, quirky, spoiled but also charismatic 21 years old Magnus picks her interest at the first sight. He is everything she normally detests: he’s pretentious, privileged, sarcastic, but his charms eventually affect her and confuse the hell of her mind.
But as soon as she agrees the terms and rules of staying at the castle where everyone lives in the premises disappear out of nowhere and dangerous manifestation lurking around the corridors, attacking each human being when the clock shows ten o’clock, she realizes she doesn’t have enough experience to defeat the hyenas.
The evil existence at the castle too powerful, too threatening, too vicious to destroy by 19 years old girl who is not licensed debtera and hasn’t finished her proper education because of the conflicts with her master which resulted with her departure. Now she needs his help because if she accepts the defeat, this means Magnus will lose his life and she is not ready to let him go. She already fell too hard for him.
I honestly devoured this exciting, action packed, terrifying story which has promising, intriguing, tempting premise.
I loved Andi’s characterization. Her resilience, her survival instincts, her hunger for affection, intensity, friendship, her determination made me connect her. Magnus was charming, entertaining, a little spoiled brat who needs to be slapped a few times but I loved his snarky comments and dark sense of humor. Love story and chemistry between Andi and him was adorable.
The book’s pace was fast, whirlwind, heart throbbing and conclusion was well wrapped up as it was expected.
I was about to give four stars but I liked the unique, exciting, mind blowing story line and characterization. So I added extra half star and rounded up 4.5 stars to 5 exhilarating, riveting, nail biting, soul crushing stars!
That was one of the best YA fantasy/ thriller reads I’ve lately devoured.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
I have to admit this is not Jane Eyre’s retelling: the only resemblances with the classic are claustrophobic mansion/ castle premise, names and resilient, young heroine.
Story is taken place a terrifying mansion: but instead of its claustrophobic theme and the master of the name is Rochester and heroine is abandoned young woman who sharpened her survival skills to stay alive, living at the streets, there are not much common things with Jane’s story and poor Rochester’s haunted life because of his wife.
Andromeda is raised by her master Jember who never showed any sign of affection for nearly 14 years, treated her harshly to force her toughen up at the young age. She’s only 19 and she leaves her home, penniless, suffer from hunger, taking the suicide mission to cleanse household of Magnus Rochester from the Evil Eye. 10 other debteras a.k.a exorcists like her took the same job and they died or they left the place without looking back before finishing their mission.
Andromeda has nothing to lose. She needs money. She needs a place to sleep and food to help her survive. Enigmatic, quirky, spoiled but also charismatic 21 years old Magnus picks her interest at the first sight. He is everything she normally detests: he’s pretentious, privileged, sarcastic, but his charms eventually affect her and confuse the hell of her mind.
But as soon as she agrees the terms and rules of staying at the castle where everyone lives in the premises disappear out of nowhere and dangerous manifestation lurking around the corridors, attacking each human being when the clock shows ten o’clock, she realizes she doesn’t have enough experience to defeat the hyenas.
The evil existence at the castle too powerful, too threatening, too vicious to destroy by 19 years old girl who is not licensed debtera and hasn’t finished her proper education because of the conflicts with her master which resulted with her departure. Now she needs his help because if she accepts the defeat, this means Magnus will lose his life and she is not ready to let him go. She already fell too hard for him.
I honestly devoured this exciting, action packed, terrifying story which has promising, intriguing, tempting premise.
I loved Andi’s characterization. Her resilience, her survival instincts, her hunger for affection, intensity, friendship, her determination made me connect her. Magnus was charming, entertaining, a little spoiled brat who needs to be slapped a few times but I loved his snarky comments and dark sense of humor. Love story and chemistry between Andi and him was adorable.
The book’s pace was fast, whirlwind, heart throbbing and conclusion was well wrapped up as it was expected.
I was about to give four stars but I liked the unique, exciting, mind blowing story line and characterization. So I added extra half star and rounded up 4.5 stars to 5 exhilarating, riveting, nail biting, soul crushing stars!
That was one of the best YA fantasy/ thriller reads I’ve lately devoured.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
September 12, 2021
as a ‘jane eyre’ retelling alone, i wouldnt be able to rate this very high. honestly, the only thing taken from the source material is the last name rochester (which is rarely used). nothing else alludes to or makes me think of ‘jane eyre’, so i honestly cant see why this is being marketed as a reimagining.
as a story about evil spirits and curses, however, this is pretty good. and i think readers who enjoy a good old-fashion exorcism will feel the same way. while the world-building is pretty non-existent, there is still a very spooky atmosphere surrounding the castle and its inhabitants.
and honestly, the inhabitants are the best part of the book, specifically magnus. his attitude, snarky humour, and just general obliviousness is outstanding. he is banter personified and the reason i am rounding up my rating.
overall, a decent debut. definitely some areas that could be improved upon as the author grows, but a pretty eerie story that comes out just in time for halloween.
thank you so much wednesday books/st. martins press for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
as a story about evil spirits and curses, however, this is pretty good. and i think readers who enjoy a good old-fashion exorcism will feel the same way. while the world-building is pretty non-existent, there is still a very spooky atmosphere surrounding the castle and its inhabitants.
and honestly, the inhabitants are the best part of the book, specifically magnus. his attitude, snarky humour, and just general obliviousness is outstanding. he is banter personified and the reason i am rounding up my rating.
overall, a decent debut. definitely some areas that could be improved upon as the author grows, but a pretty eerie story that comes out just in time for halloween.
thank you so much wednesday books/st. martins press for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
September 12, 2020
I wrote this with my own two hands (and a keyboard).
If you love kissing, creepy stuff, and banter for days PULL UP A CHAIR YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
If you love kissing, creepy stuff, and banter for days PULL UP A CHAIR YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
October 19, 2021
↠ 4 stars
An exquisite Ethiopian-inspired fantasy reimagining of Jane Eyre, set in a cursed house with a will entirely of its own. Andromeda is an exorcist, a debtera trained to purge cursed households afflicted with the evil eye. The jobs aren't easy, and they've been known to leave quite the trail of bodies behind, yet Andromeda is determined to see them out. When the illustrious heir Magnus Rochester acquires her services for his decrepit estate, Andromeda assumes it will be a cut and dry cleansing, but what actually lies in wait for her is far more terrifying. A malevolent force lies within the castle walls, the likes of which Andromeda has never dealt with before. Leaving the house is not an option, but staying behind may mean courting certain death. The evil holding sway over the castle and the people inside has a grip that won't easily be severed, and the longer Andromeda lingers, the more danger she ultimately places into her path.
As soon as I heard the words “Jane Eyre retelling” you could count me in to read this as soon as humanly possible. Debut author Lauren Blackwood has twisted Charlotte Brontë’s original story into something much more haunting, set in a cursed castle with characters that have to defeat the evil lurking within. In this unforgettable novel, Blackwood brings together well-developed world-building and a magic system that held my attention as I was drawn into the eerie surroundings. While Within These Wicked Walls is first and foremost a horror novel, it blends horror with romance in a way that brings something to the table for readers interested in either genre. I personally came for the gothic retelling and stayed for the beautiful friendships and a resilient heroine tasked with an impossible mission. Reading this was like getting a present wrapped inside another present because it seriously kept getting better the further I was led into it. The detailed imagery placed me right inside the castle, what with its bleeding walls and eerie manifestations that only served to unsettle me all the more. Having the Ethiopian-inspired elements in the story provided a much-needed infusion of background, both for our main character and for what lies outside the confines of the castle walls. Without it, the environment would have seemed too stagnant, and the characters perhaps a little two-dimensional. Getting more background into Andromeda only made her more of an interesting perspective for me going forward. Horror aside, the romantic part of the story both intrigued and delighted me. There definitely were moments between the two main characters that bordered on insta-love, but the romantic chemistry was there so I found I didn't really mind that in the long run. Lauren Blackwood has certainly managed to craft a compelling gothic romance, and pay homage to a literary classic, all while making her mark as a rising voice in literature and the YA genre. Will absolutely be looking out for more from her in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, gore, abuse, death, paralysis, murder, abandonment, slavery, trafficking
blog
An exquisite Ethiopian-inspired fantasy reimagining of Jane Eyre, set in a cursed house with a will entirely of its own. Andromeda is an exorcist, a debtera trained to purge cursed households afflicted with the evil eye. The jobs aren't easy, and they've been known to leave quite the trail of bodies behind, yet Andromeda is determined to see them out. When the illustrious heir Magnus Rochester acquires her services for his decrepit estate, Andromeda assumes it will be a cut and dry cleansing, but what actually lies in wait for her is far more terrifying. A malevolent force lies within the castle walls, the likes of which Andromeda has never dealt with before. Leaving the house is not an option, but staying behind may mean courting certain death. The evil holding sway over the castle and the people inside has a grip that won't easily be severed, and the longer Andromeda lingers, the more danger she ultimately places into her path.
As soon as I heard the words “Jane Eyre retelling” you could count me in to read this as soon as humanly possible. Debut author Lauren Blackwood has twisted Charlotte Brontë’s original story into something much more haunting, set in a cursed castle with characters that have to defeat the evil lurking within. In this unforgettable novel, Blackwood brings together well-developed world-building and a magic system that held my attention as I was drawn into the eerie surroundings. While Within These Wicked Walls is first and foremost a horror novel, it blends horror with romance in a way that brings something to the table for readers interested in either genre. I personally came for the gothic retelling and stayed for the beautiful friendships and a resilient heroine tasked with an impossible mission. Reading this was like getting a present wrapped inside another present because it seriously kept getting better the further I was led into it. The detailed imagery placed me right inside the castle, what with its bleeding walls and eerie manifestations that only served to unsettle me all the more. Having the Ethiopian-inspired elements in the story provided a much-needed infusion of background, both for our main character and for what lies outside the confines of the castle walls. Without it, the environment would have seemed too stagnant, and the characters perhaps a little two-dimensional. Getting more background into Andromeda only made her more of an interesting perspective for me going forward. Horror aside, the romantic part of the story both intrigued and delighted me. There definitely were moments between the two main characters that bordered on insta-love, but the romantic chemistry was there so I found I didn't really mind that in the long run. Lauren Blackwood has certainly managed to craft a compelling gothic romance, and pay homage to a literary classic, all while making her mark as a rising voice in literature and the YA genre. Will absolutely be looking out for more from her in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, gore, abuse, death, paralysis, murder, abandonment, slavery, trafficking
blog
November 15, 2025
Andromeda, known as Andi, is a debtera, essentially an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye.
Raised by a man named Jember, who Andi considers to be her father, she was thus trained by one of the best.
Jember is well known for his exceptional abilities as a debtera, but he's paid the price for his success; left with chronic pain and disability stemming from the job.
Andi and Jember have a complicated relationship, which is on full display over the course of this story. No matter how much she seeks his love and acceptance, she never seems to get it.
Thus, she finds herself at the cusp of adulthood on her own. She needs to start making her own way. When she gets offered a position to cleanse the mysterious Rochester household of a crippling case of the Evil Eye, she accepts.
The Rochester home is her first big commission on her own and obviously, she's anxious about it. It doesn't help that Andi quickly realizes this is a massive job; with horrifying manifestations around every corner.
The master of the house, Magnus Rochester, is charming and endearing, but also a bit of a rascal. Andi feels an almost instant attraction to him. Frankly, it would be hard not to.
She vows to herself to do everything she possibly can to help him, even if it means putting her own life at risk.
Within These Wicked Walls is a debut Fantasy from author, Lauren Blackwood. Described as an Ethiopian-inspired retelling of Jane Eyre, this novel delivered exactly what I was hoping for.
I really enjoyed this story. The atmosphere was fantastic, dripping with danger and dark gothic vibes. Andi was an incredible main character to follow; I felt like I could really get behind her.
Magnus, as well, was a delight. I wanted to help him as much as Andi did; he was in so much trouble when she came to him. The stakes were extremely high and time was of the essence.
Andi's life wasn't easy. All the poor thing wanted was someone to love her; to feel like she belonged to someone, somewhere. It actually broke my heart a wee bit.
In spite of everything, she had such a capacity to give love and I wanted that for her. With this being said, the relationship between Andi and Magnus does tread a bit into Instalove territory; so, if this is a problem for you, you've been forewarned.
I didn't mind it. I thought their banter was adorable and I was rooting for them.
I did find some of the magic system, for example, how Andi was working her amulets in order to cleanse the Evil Eye, a little confusing. Also, there were moments when I felt the narrative dragged just a little, or scenes became repetitive.
For the most part, though, those tiny things really didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. This is an absolutely excellent debut.
It's compelling from the start and the narrative solidly delivers what the synopsis promised. I definitely recommend this one for your Spooky Season TBR!
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies to read and review.
I cannot wait to read more from Lauren Blackwood in the future. Exceptional debut!!!
Raised by a man named Jember, who Andi considers to be her father, she was thus trained by one of the best.
Jember is well known for his exceptional abilities as a debtera, but he's paid the price for his success; left with chronic pain and disability stemming from the job.
Andi and Jember have a complicated relationship, which is on full display over the course of this story. No matter how much she seeks his love and acceptance, she never seems to get it.
Thus, she finds herself at the cusp of adulthood on her own. She needs to start making her own way. When she gets offered a position to cleanse the mysterious Rochester household of a crippling case of the Evil Eye, she accepts.
The Rochester home is her first big commission on her own and obviously, she's anxious about it. It doesn't help that Andi quickly realizes this is a massive job; with horrifying manifestations around every corner.
The master of the house, Magnus Rochester, is charming and endearing, but also a bit of a rascal. Andi feels an almost instant attraction to him. Frankly, it would be hard not to.
She vows to herself to do everything she possibly can to help him, even if it means putting her own life at risk.
Within These Wicked Walls is a debut Fantasy from author, Lauren Blackwood. Described as an Ethiopian-inspired retelling of Jane Eyre, this novel delivered exactly what I was hoping for.
I really enjoyed this story. The atmosphere was fantastic, dripping with danger and dark gothic vibes. Andi was an incredible main character to follow; I felt like I could really get behind her.
Magnus, as well, was a delight. I wanted to help him as much as Andi did; he was in so much trouble when she came to him. The stakes were extremely high and time was of the essence.
Andi's life wasn't easy. All the poor thing wanted was someone to love her; to feel like she belonged to someone, somewhere. It actually broke my heart a wee bit.
In spite of everything, she had such a capacity to give love and I wanted that for her. With this being said, the relationship between Andi and Magnus does tread a bit into Instalove territory; so, if this is a problem for you, you've been forewarned.
I didn't mind it. I thought their banter was adorable and I was rooting for them.
I did find some of the magic system, for example, how Andi was working her amulets in order to cleanse the Evil Eye, a little confusing. Also, there were moments when I felt the narrative dragged just a little, or scenes became repetitive.
For the most part, though, those tiny things really didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. This is an absolutely excellent debut.
It's compelling from the start and the narrative solidly delivers what the synopsis promised. I definitely recommend this one for your Spooky Season TBR!
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies to read and review.
I cannot wait to read more from Lauren Blackwood in the future. Exceptional debut!!!
October 21, 2022
Calling all
Jane Eyre
fans.. ⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars 😉
Within These Wicked Walls is a Jane Eyre retelling Gothic Romance combines with Ethiopian Folklore which is really interesting!! and I tell you guys.. Even though it has some creepy moments, but..
It's not at all scary! It's more like a romance.
I just wish it to be more mysterious and able to scare the hell out of me! lol! Alas.. I didn't get my wish. 😂 Anyway, it will be perfect for everyone who want gothic romance read that not too deadly scary! ❤️
Ethiopian Folklore
However, the most limelight to me is "Ethiopian Folklore" which this story based on. Omg, it's very INTERESTING! Very new and refreshing to me that.. made me curious to know the real folklore for understanding this story better, made melike Bella searching for Edward origin info. *kidding* but sort of! Hahaha
Oh.. the more I explore the knowledge about "Debtera" and this "Buda" evil eyes made me gone crazy! xD Won't tell y'anything more! *Beeeeeeeeeeep*
** See my book status below if you're curious!! 🤭🤭👻 **
Within These Wicked Walls is a Jane Eyre retelling Gothic Romance combines with Ethiopian Folklore which is really interesting!! and I tell you guys.. Even though it has some creepy moments, but..
It's not at all scary! It's more like a romance.
I just wish it to be more mysterious and able to scare the hell out of me! lol! Alas.. I didn't get my wish. 😂 Anyway, it will be perfect for everyone who want gothic romance read that not too deadly scary! ❤️
Ethiopian Folklore
However, the most limelight to me is "Ethiopian Folklore" which this story based on. Omg, it's very INTERESTING! Very new and refreshing to me that.. made me curious to know the real folklore for understanding this story better, made me
Oh.. the more I explore the knowledge about "Debtera" and this "Buda" evil eyes made me gone crazy! xD Won't tell y'anything more! *Beeeeeeeeeeep*
** See my book status below if you're curious!! 🤭🤭👻 **
November 12, 2021
Actual rating: 3,5
Action packed from the very beginning, and I love it!
I picked Within These Wicked Walls by accident, misplacing it for another ya horror that was coming out this year.
However, I am not sorry because I was in a mood for horror, and horror I got.
I like how the story opened with an action and I was pulled into it so very easily.
I don't know if this book is in ya category as the main character Andri is 19 years old, but to me it definitely read as ya horror.
The setting was little hard for me to understand, and I am honestly considering rereading this whole novel to understand it better, plus I do believe that I would appreciate the story more if I give it another go.
What also confused me was how this read as fantasy but then book classics would be mentioned and at times I had feeling I was reading historical fiction with fantasy/horror elements...
This supposed to be Jane Eyre retelling, and although I can see little similarity in setting (big castle) and ghost who maybe was it's version of captured wife from the Jane Eyre, I can't agree that this is retelling.
I personally saw more similarities with Beauty and the Beast.
I loved characters and the main plot, including all the horror elements and action scenes, but I didn't like the love story.
I didn't feel the chemistry between Andri and Magnus, and it all felt all of a sudden. To be honest, I'd prefer if the story was without it.
All in all, good, fast paced story, perfect choice to read in October.
Action packed from the very beginning, and I love it!
I picked Within These Wicked Walls by accident, misplacing it for another ya horror that was coming out this year.
However, I am not sorry because I was in a mood for horror, and horror I got.
I like how the story opened with an action and I was pulled into it so very easily.
I don't know if this book is in ya category as the main character Andri is 19 years old, but to me it definitely read as ya horror.
The setting was little hard for me to understand, and I am honestly considering rereading this whole novel to understand it better, plus I do believe that I would appreciate the story more if I give it another go.
What also confused me was how this read as fantasy but then book classics would be mentioned and at times I had feeling I was reading historical fiction with fantasy/horror elements...
This supposed to be Jane Eyre retelling, and although I can see little similarity in setting (big castle) and ghost who maybe was it's version of captured wife from the Jane Eyre, I can't agree that this is retelling.
I personally saw more similarities with Beauty and the Beast.
I loved characters and the main plot, including all the horror elements and action scenes, but I didn't like the love story.
I didn't feel the chemistry between Andri and Magnus, and it all felt all of a sudden. To be honest, I'd prefer if the story was without it.
All in all, good, fast paced story, perfect choice to read in October.
November 18, 2021
Man, this was a creepily good book. 😱 Those first three chapters really set the scene for a spooky story. I especially loved the main characters. ❤️ This had gory spooky bits, but also lovely tender moments too. I wish I had read this for haunting month. 🎃 but I guess it’s better late than never!
February 25, 2022
This was not what I was expecting so I feel tad disappointed. I don't think 'an Ethiopian-inspired fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre' is a very accurate description of this book. I would have loved that book! It was yearny relationship heavy with quite an unlikeable 'Rochester' and instalove. Seriously guys, I thought I had accidentally skipped ahead in the audiobook because for me the romance came totally out of the blue. The horror parts were kind of intense in terms of their speed and ferocity but then they abruptly stopped and we were back in the love angst again. There are lots of positive reviews so this must be a case of not for me.
May 27, 2022
It took a me a while to read this one not because the book was bad, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrator. Nevertheless, this book was creepy AF. I don't think I was expecting that.
From what I've heard Within These Wicked Walls is an Ethiopian inspired re-telling of Jane Eyre, but I simply enjoyed it as a well written gothic fantasy romance mash up. The story itself focuses on Andromeda aka Andie who is an exorcist who has the ability to cleanse the evil eye. She is requested by Magnus Rochester to help cleanse his household. The tone set in the beginning of this book was epic. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but the creep factor was off the charts. There is an ease into the complexity of this evilness that will take the reader by surprise. Blackwood does a great job with developing Andromeda as a complex character.
The relationship between Magnus and Andie does fall a little bit on the side of insta-love which really isn't my favorite in YA novels. I think it will work for the intended audience, but as an adult reader it really isn't my thing. Nevertheless, I did find some aspects of their relationship to be quite charming. There were two things that I wish this novel explored a little further: the relationship that Andie had with Jember as well as the magic system. While he did some not so great things in her childhood, she does consider him to be a father figure. The complexity of this relationship was handled in way that left me wanting more at the end. While I thought that the magic system was interesting, I wish there was just a little more exploration of the amulets utilized to fight the evil eye. There were some parts where I found myself to be a little confused.
Overall, this was a great read. I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the plot. If you're looking for a new spooky gothic fantasy romance to check out, I would recommend giving this a try.
From what I've heard Within These Wicked Walls is an Ethiopian inspired re-telling of Jane Eyre, but I simply enjoyed it as a well written gothic fantasy romance mash up. The story itself focuses on Andromeda aka Andie who is an exorcist who has the ability to cleanse the evil eye. She is requested by Magnus Rochester to help cleanse his household. The tone set in the beginning of this book was epic. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but the creep factor was off the charts. There is an ease into the complexity of this evilness that will take the reader by surprise. Blackwood does a great job with developing Andromeda as a complex character.
The relationship between Magnus and Andie does fall a little bit on the side of insta-love which really isn't my favorite in YA novels. I think it will work for the intended audience, but as an adult reader it really isn't my thing. Nevertheless, I did find some aspects of their relationship to be quite charming. There were two things that I wish this novel explored a little further: the relationship that Andie had with Jember as well as the magic system. While he did some not so great things in her childhood, she does consider him to be a father figure. The complexity of this relationship was handled in way that left me wanting more at the end. While I thought that the magic system was interesting, I wish there was just a little more exploration of the amulets utilized to fight the evil eye. There were some parts where I found myself to be a little confused.
Overall, this was a great read. I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the plot. If you're looking for a new spooky gothic fantasy romance to check out, I would recommend giving this a try.
May 7, 2021
Simply put, i did not like this book and i don’t have a lot of positive things to say about this book.
I’ll be honest, i loved the beginning. The writing was great and atmospheric, the vibes were ethereal, and we were being introduced to an extraordinary world. And honestly this book had so much potential. Unfortunately EVERYTHING went downhill from the moment Magnus entered the book, and my hatred for the character was magnified because there was such a build up to his introduction. We were being told things about him and already given an impression on him way before Andi (mc) meets him. It turned out to be one of those situations where you’re led to expect a certain thing and the reality is nothing close to it.
Magnus is your typical ya rich brat who’s inheriting his rich fathers money. Yeah... LIKE LITERALLY YOUR TOKEN YA love interest. And god the interactions were cringey. The dialogue in terms of how he flirts. Idk why im critical of this but it just urked me so much. Whenever Magnus is present its just an embarrassment HOW COULD THIS BOOK GO SO WRONG WITH THIS ONE THING??? Pretty much the banter was horrible and that one scene when they first kiss was so... uncomfortable to read about??? Yikes 😬.
In terms of world building and fantasy element, i think the book did a great job with this premise. This was unique. This was really something that I would’ve loved so much if not for the book having a main plot of romance which i did not enjoy at all. In terms of character, like ANDI is such a layered character and DAMN I LOVED HER!! I was so excited to know more about her past and stuff and yes i did like what we got from that aspect, but.... yeah magnus ruined everything i hate it here.
However, ill still mention that the writing style itself was really and that speaks a lot about the author. This was not a genre i enjoyed and not a story i liked, but the author still managed to make me have a positive impression of the writing style itself so cudos the the author. And this tells me that people who truly do enjoy ya romance as genre, definitely would enjoy this book!!!
Note: i received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll be honest, i loved the beginning. The writing was great and atmospheric, the vibes were ethereal, and we were being introduced to an extraordinary world. And honestly this book had so much potential. Unfortunately EVERYTHING went downhill from the moment Magnus entered the book, and my hatred for the character was magnified because there was such a build up to his introduction. We were being told things about him and already given an impression on him way before Andi (mc) meets him. It turned out to be one of those situations where you’re led to expect a certain thing and the reality is nothing close to it.
Magnus is your typical ya rich brat who’s inheriting his rich fathers money. Yeah... LIKE LITERALLY YOUR TOKEN YA love interest. And god the interactions were cringey. The dialogue in terms of how he flirts. Idk why im critical of this but it just urked me so much. Whenever Magnus is present its just an embarrassment HOW COULD THIS BOOK GO SO WRONG WITH THIS ONE THING??? Pretty much the banter was horrible and that one scene when they first kiss was so... uncomfortable to read about??? Yikes 😬.
In terms of world building and fantasy element, i think the book did a great job with this premise. This was unique. This was really something that I would’ve loved so much if not for the book having a main plot of romance which i did not enjoy at all. In terms of character, like ANDI is such a layered character and DAMN I LOVED HER!! I was so excited to know more about her past and stuff and yes i did like what we got from that aspect, but.... yeah magnus ruined everything i hate it here.
However, ill still mention that the writing style itself was really and that speaks a lot about the author. This was not a genre i enjoyed and not a story i liked, but the author still managed to make me have a positive impression of the writing style itself so cudos the the author. And this tells me that people who truly do enjoy ya romance as genre, definitely would enjoy this book!!!
Note: i received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2021
I finished this weeks ago, but my brain has been allergic to the concept of writing reviews recently, so I’m only now getting around to it! Within These Wicked Walls was such a great, creeping haunted house story that delivers spooky vibes without crossing over into genuinely scary territory.
Andromeda, sometimes ‘Andi’, is a debtera struggling to get by, who would normally earn her way by cleansing houses of dark possessions held under the Evil Eye. The only issue is Andromeda is not licensed, therefore unable to find work. But one day she receives a call about a job in a large estate, owned by a Magnus Rochester. It doesn’t take long to figure out why Mr. Rochester is having trouble filling this position—they have had a dozen other debteras try and fail to cleanse the house already. Staff is being picked off at an alarming rate, but without any other options Andi’s going to have to take the job no matter the risks.
This book was pitched as an “Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre”, and while I haven’t read Jane Eyre I think this will be the third retelling I’ve read of it. Some of the story feels familiar for that reason—rich guy, old creepy house, young woman moving in, etc. But what Lauren Blackwood brings in a new setting, she also delivers in location-specific mysticism and lore. The Evil Eye is an existing belief, popular in the Mediterranean and Western Asia, in a curse that can be sent by a malevolent glare. As in the novel, it works in conjunction with Christianity, not in opposition, and many believers will cary amulets like Andromeda does.
Like many male literary potential love interests, I didn’t like Magnus and would not be mad if he had just died right away. That’s my usual solution to this problem, and rarely does the author decide to go down that route (regrettably).
Annoying men aside, I thought this book was a really cool take on an enduring classic. It’s not heavily reliant on the source material, so Blackwood has plenty of room to flex her creative muscles. Within These Wicked Walls was mine and Madison’s (@momandmadread) Octoberish book club pick and I feel like it’s going to be a great book for discussions. Also pretty sure Reese Witherspoon copied us, but that’s fine. 💅
*Thanks to Wednesday Books for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Andromeda, sometimes ‘Andi’, is a debtera struggling to get by, who would normally earn her way by cleansing houses of dark possessions held under the Evil Eye. The only issue is Andromeda is not licensed, therefore unable to find work. But one day she receives a call about a job in a large estate, owned by a Magnus Rochester. It doesn’t take long to figure out why Mr. Rochester is having trouble filling this position—they have had a dozen other debteras try and fail to cleanse the house already. Staff is being picked off at an alarming rate, but without any other options Andi’s going to have to take the job no matter the risks.
This book was pitched as an “Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre”, and while I haven’t read Jane Eyre I think this will be the third retelling I’ve read of it. Some of the story feels familiar for that reason—rich guy, old creepy house, young woman moving in, etc. But what Lauren Blackwood brings in a new setting, she also delivers in location-specific mysticism and lore. The Evil Eye is an existing belief, popular in the Mediterranean and Western Asia, in a curse that can be sent by a malevolent glare. As in the novel, it works in conjunction with Christianity, not in opposition, and many believers will cary amulets like Andromeda does.
Like many male literary potential love interests, I didn’t like Magnus and would not be mad if he had just died right away. That’s my usual solution to this problem, and rarely does the author decide to go down that route (regrettably).
Annoying men aside, I thought this book was a really cool take on an enduring classic. It’s not heavily reliant on the source material, so Blackwood has plenty of room to flex her creative muscles. Within These Wicked Walls was mine and Madison’s (@momandmadread) Octoberish book club pick and I feel like it’s going to be a great book for discussions. Also pretty sure Reese Witherspoon copied us, but that’s fine. 💅
*Thanks to Wednesday Books for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
December 20, 2020
WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS is an indulgently gothic fairy tale, comparable in mastery with Mexican Gothic & Jane Eyre. An intricate magic system, a grimly humorous Black heroine, AND a heart-thumping romance? This book leaves nothing wanting.
September 1, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whew, here we go. Well it took me months and months but I FINALLY got this out of my DNFs, so that's exciting.
I just... really didn't like this. I was expecting brooding slow burn romance in a haunted Gothic mansion with a side of horror. What I got was immature insta-love with a repulsive LI and the occasional MG level "horror" scene.
As I said in my last review, I like to keep my reviews balanced if possible, but as I could think of nothing bad to say then about Caraval by Stephanie Garber, I can now think of nothing good to say about Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood. So I'll just list all the reasons it didn't work for me.
The characters were all either boring and flat or terrible and obnoxious. There was one i found vaguely interesting as a character but then his personality did a 180 for no discernible interest and I no longer cared. Andi, the MC, has whatever personality best fits the scene and Magnus, the love interest, is somehow both a complete idiot and extremely manipulative. He leads Andi on even though he's engaged and then manages to get her to apologize and make her feel like the jerk. He's crying or whining in almost every scene. I really couldn't hate him more.
The romance was just gross, maybe because I hated Magnus so much, but it was definitely compounded by Andi constantly acting like his mom. Ugh
The horror was extremely disappointing, even more so because it had an interesting premise (evil eye cursed Magnus' father due to his greed, father died and the curse passed down to Magnu). However i was made clear from the start that none of the house manifestations can actually hurt them, so they're basically nothing more than vaguely creepy holograms? Plus, some of the characters seemed to sometimes forget how the curse even worked. The magic could have been really interesting but it was never quite satisfactorily explained so I was left feeling pretty meh about it.
And towards end nothing really even made sense. There were rules established about how the manifestations work and when they come out and then suddenly those rules don't apply because... Andi doesn't want them to? The climax really didn't make sense and never should have happened the way it did.
I started reading just so excited for this book but by the third chapter I was already bored/annoyed. Clearly I'm in a tiny minority here since as of right now this book has a rating of well over 4/5 so if it interests you I would still suggest giving it a chance. Unfortunately it turned out to be just about everything I hate in a book all at once.
Whew, here we go. Well it took me months and months but I FINALLY got this out of my DNFs, so that's exciting.
I just... really didn't like this. I was expecting brooding slow burn romance in a haunted Gothic mansion with a side of horror. What I got was immature insta-love with a repulsive LI and the occasional MG level "horror" scene.
As I said in my last review, I like to keep my reviews balanced if possible, but as I could think of nothing bad to say then about Caraval by Stephanie Garber, I can now think of nothing good to say about Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood. So I'll just list all the reasons it didn't work for me.
The characters were all either boring and flat or terrible and obnoxious. There was one i found vaguely interesting as a character but then his personality did a 180 for no discernible interest and I no longer cared. Andi, the MC, has whatever personality best fits the scene and Magnus, the love interest, is somehow both a complete idiot and extremely manipulative. He leads Andi on even though he's engaged and then manages to get her to apologize and make her feel like the jerk. He's crying or whining in almost every scene. I really couldn't hate him more.
The romance was just gross, maybe because I hated Magnus so much, but it was definitely compounded by Andi constantly acting like his mom. Ugh
The horror was extremely disappointing, even more so because it had an interesting premise (evil eye cursed Magnus' father due to his greed, father died and the curse passed down to Magnu). However i was made clear from the start that none of the house manifestations can actually hurt them, so they're basically nothing more than vaguely creepy holograms? Plus, some of the characters seemed to sometimes forget how the curse even worked. The magic could have been really interesting but it was never quite satisfactorily explained so I was left feeling pretty meh about it.
And towards end nothing really even made sense. There were rules established about how the manifestations work and when they come out and then suddenly those rules don't apply because... Andi doesn't want them to? The climax really didn't make sense and never should have happened the way it did.
I started reading just so excited for this book but by the third chapter I was already bored/annoyed. Clearly I'm in a tiny minority here since as of right now this book has a rating of well over 4/5 so if it interests you I would still suggest giving it a chance. Unfortunately it turned out to be just about everything I hate in a book all at once.
March 31, 2022
Amazing atmosphere, loved the fresh take on a very different—and minimally inspired—Jane Eyre retelling. Loved the magic components, the haunted house, the Ethiopian-meets-gothic vibes… ahhh so good.
Concept: ★★★★
Writing: ★★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
First disclaimer: I have not read Jane Eyre.
Second disclaimer: I did not go into this book wanting, or requiring, a faithful interpretation of Jane Eyre.
Andromeda, or "Andi," is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. With a rough upbringing behind her, current poverty around her, and a very uncertain future ahead, Andi is out of options and in need of steady employment.
So when an offer for a house cleansing comes her way riddled with warnings, she's too desperate to refuse.
Andi arrives at Thorne Manor in the middle of the African desert with desperation and everything to gain. She needs to eradicate this manifestation at whatever the cost—she has nothing left to lose.
But Thorn Manor, with its English colonialist design and history forced into the African landscape, is nothing like Andi's expectations. It's dark and freezing cold in the middle of the desert. It's filled with weird, misplaced furniture and false illusions. There's a sense of foreboding that Andi has never experienced despite all of her prior cleansings. And, to top it all off, the host of the manor is not at all like her expectations.
Andi has a job to do. And as the servants keep disappearing (or worse) and the house creeps closer toward Andi with every breath, the stakes are too high to leave.
Now add in a romance, a ghost story, and a claustrophobic atmosphere on par with Mexican Gothic, and you have a STORY.
Don't let your guard down...
Again, with my disclaimers at the beginning of this review aside, I thought this was a fantastic story. I read it over the course of one evening—and basically one sitting, if you don't count tea breaks!
Within These Wicked Walls had truly fantastic writing. Most times for young adult fiction/fantasy, I am attached to the characters, plot, or world building more than I'm attached to the actual words and their structure themselves. But for this one, the writing itself stood out to me. I loved the sense of place conveyed through the sentence descriptions, Andi's presence on the page, and the great sense of dialogue and scene transitions. This sounds like I'm reviewing an academic paper or something (boring, I know) but I really wanted to call it out here. GREAT writing.
I also thought that entire plot (romance, relationships, pacing, and all) was just.... chef's kiss. Really nice. I have no complaints besides a few spots that felt slowly paced.
Why is it so hard to talk intelligently in reviews when you love something??? Sigh. Please take my badly-constructed word on this: this story is fantastic, it's atmospheric, and it's a fresh take on a very old concept with some much needed non-Western influences.
I could see myself rereading this one every autumn. Pick this one up, gothic/ghost fans!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
Concept: ★★★★
Writing: ★★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
First disclaimer: I have not read Jane Eyre.
Second disclaimer: I did not go into this book wanting, or requiring, a faithful interpretation of Jane Eyre.
Andromeda, or "Andi," is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. With a rough upbringing behind her, current poverty around her, and a very uncertain future ahead, Andi is out of options and in need of steady employment.
So when an offer for a house cleansing comes her way riddled with warnings, she's too desperate to refuse.
Andi arrives at Thorne Manor in the middle of the African desert with desperation and everything to gain. She needs to eradicate this manifestation at whatever the cost—she has nothing left to lose.
But Thorn Manor, with its English colonialist design and history forced into the African landscape, is nothing like Andi's expectations. It's dark and freezing cold in the middle of the desert. It's filled with weird, misplaced furniture and false illusions. There's a sense of foreboding that Andi has never experienced despite all of her prior cleansings. And, to top it all off, the host of the manor is not at all like her expectations.
Andi has a job to do. And as the servants keep disappearing (or worse) and the house creeps closer toward Andi with every breath, the stakes are too high to leave.
Now add in a romance, a ghost story, and a claustrophobic atmosphere on par with Mexican Gothic, and you have a STORY.
Don't let your guard down...
Again, with my disclaimers at the beginning of this review aside, I thought this was a fantastic story. I read it over the course of one evening—and basically one sitting, if you don't count tea breaks!
Within These Wicked Walls had truly fantastic writing. Most times for young adult fiction/fantasy, I am attached to the characters, plot, or world building more than I'm attached to the actual words and their structure themselves. But for this one, the writing itself stood out to me. I loved the sense of place conveyed through the sentence descriptions, Andi's presence on the page, and the great sense of dialogue and scene transitions. This sounds like I'm reviewing an academic paper or something (boring, I know) but I really wanted to call it out here. GREAT writing.
I also thought that entire plot (romance, relationships, pacing, and all) was just.... chef's kiss. Really nice. I have no complaints besides a few spots that felt slowly paced.
Why is it so hard to talk intelligently in reviews when you love something??? Sigh. Please take my badly-constructed word on this: this story is fantastic, it's atmospheric, and it's a fresh take on a very old concept with some much needed non-Western influences.
I could see myself rereading this one every autumn. Pick this one up, gothic/ghost fans!
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
February 27, 2022
A young woman must cleanse a haunted desert castle of the evil eye and save the equally cursed owner.
Within These Wicked Walls is a gothic fantasy romance the was refreshingly different from most of the fantasies on the market right now. For a debut I thought this story was pretty solid. Lauren Blackwood does a good job building atmosphere as the reader experiences Andromeda's first waking in the house. She has an instant attraction to Magnus despite his arrogance and eccentric tendencies and he finds her equally alluring.
There was a slight lull in the middle but it picked back up and I never felt this story was too long and drawn out. The writing was just descriptive enough to keep me entertained by what was going on inside the house. Once we saw what was happening with the other employees I was invested.
Though insta-love isn't my favorite in YA romance I though Magnus and Andromeda had enough chemistry to make it believable. The drama with Kelela wasn't too overdone. There is also drama with a parental figure towards Andromeda which wasn't my favorite but it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment. This is really a coming of age set against a gothic backdrop with some demons thrown in. The magic is easy to understand and the page count doesn't drag out making it easy to get teen reader's attention.
I do wish the audiobook would've gone with a different narrator as I didn't feel like the British narrator fit the setting of this story. I kept getting transported to Victorian mansion instead of Ethiopian inspired castle. I hate when British accent is the default for fantasies not set in even a fictionalized version of England.
Overall I was entertained. Thank you Wednesday Books for the arc.
Full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
Within These Wicked Walls is a gothic fantasy romance the was refreshingly different from most of the fantasies on the market right now. For a debut I thought this story was pretty solid. Lauren Blackwood does a good job building atmosphere as the reader experiences Andromeda's first waking in the house. She has an instant attraction to Magnus despite his arrogance and eccentric tendencies and he finds her equally alluring.
There was a slight lull in the middle but it picked back up and I never felt this story was too long and drawn out. The writing was just descriptive enough to keep me entertained by what was going on inside the house. Once we saw what was happening with the other employees I was invested.
Though insta-love isn't my favorite in YA romance I though Magnus and Andromeda had enough chemistry to make it believable. The drama with Kelela wasn't too overdone. There is also drama with a parental figure towards Andromeda which wasn't my favorite but it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment. This is really a coming of age set against a gothic backdrop with some demons thrown in. The magic is easy to understand and the page count doesn't drag out making it easy to get teen reader's attention.
I do wish the audiobook would've gone with a different narrator as I didn't feel like the British narrator fit the setting of this story. I kept getting transported to Victorian mansion instead of Ethiopian inspired castle. I hate when British accent is the default for fantasies not set in even a fictionalized version of England.
Overall I was entertained. Thank you Wednesday Books for the arc.
Full review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
June 27, 2023
I loved the creep vibe and the narrative voice of Andromeda. She was a fun character to journey through this haunting house with.
There was a bit of confusion on the actual training done to construct the amulets, and I would have liked more clarification on the process and the magical rules around them. I definitely want more books and concepts about debtera now.
I honestly don't get the comparison to Jane Eyre, other than a creepy gothic horror mansion.
The instalove was there but not in a cringey way. Magnus had a bit of character growth to redeem himself.
I am not as well versed in Ethiopian lore, so I can't personally attest to the hyenas and their role, but they seemed to work at least as out of sight out of mind villains. I wish there were a bit more about their appearance than what horrors they rendered.
Overall, it had just the right gothic horror vibe for me. Mix in some interesting relationships and the ceramic composition of one of the characters that were quite fascinating, and I was here for it.
Quotes, I enjoyed
“Dancing dust and shadows looked like ghosts come to protest our intrusion. But there was nothing to fear here . . . only memories. Those could only hurt you if you let them.”
“Love is an action. It’s something you do.”
4 Solid Stars.
There was a bit of confusion on the actual training done to construct the amulets, and I would have liked more clarification on the process and the magical rules around them. I definitely want more books and concepts about debtera now.
I honestly don't get the comparison to Jane Eyre, other than a creepy gothic horror mansion.
The instalove was there but not in a cringey way. Magnus had a bit of character growth to redeem himself.
I am not as well versed in Ethiopian lore, so I can't personally attest to the hyenas and their role, but they seemed to work at least as out of sight out of mind villains. I wish there were a bit more about their appearance than what horrors they rendered.
Overall, it had just the right gothic horror vibe for me. Mix in some interesting relationships and the ceramic composition of one of the characters that were quite fascinating, and I was here for it.
Quotes, I enjoyed
“Dancing dust and shadows looked like ghosts come to protest our intrusion. But there was nothing to fear here . . . only memories. Those could only hurt you if you let them.”
“Love is an action. It’s something you do.”
4 Solid Stars.
Read
June 30, 2023DNF at page 123. Sad about it but I just am not feeling this at all!
October 22, 2021
Rating: 4.5 stars
From the characters, to the romance, to the writing, to the creepiness - this book really has so much going for it. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a fantasy book as much as I did with this one. The author did a great job of making all the characters feel fleshed out, the setting eerie, the stakes high, the romance sweet, and the horror of the mansion come to life all within a standalone novel. Plus the father/daughter moments between Andi and Jember....LOVED IT! I'm so impressed and will 100% be looking forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Definitely would recommend picking this one up as soon as it comes out since it's a perfect read for Halloween!
Thank you Wednesday Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
From the characters, to the romance, to the writing, to the creepiness - this book really has so much going for it. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a fantasy book as much as I did with this one. The author did a great job of making all the characters feel fleshed out, the setting eerie, the stakes high, the romance sweet, and the horror of the mansion come to life all within a standalone novel. Plus the father/daughter moments between Andi and Jember....LOVED IT! I'm so impressed and will 100% be looking forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Definitely would recommend picking this one up as soon as it comes out since it's a perfect read for Halloween!
Thank you Wednesday Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2023
Strong 3.75 ⭐️
This was a super entertaining fantasy read!! 🤩🤩 I literally haven't ever seen anyone talk about this so I wasn't sure if i would like it, but it was really fun. If you're looking for interesting worldbuilding, great writing + fast-paced story, then this is the book for you! 💙💙🫶🫶
“The number of insufferable people who could fit in one house was beginning to feel unrealistic.”
Pitched as an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling, Within These Wicked Walls follows our mc Andromeda who is a debtera- an exorcist who is hired to cleanse households of the Evil. However, she can't get any work after being thrown out by her mentor before getting a license. She needs to get a Patron to vouch for her abilities and when Magnus, a handsome heir, reaches out, it seems perfect. But this job is more than Andromeda is equipped for- every previous debtera has given up and death is the most likely outcome if Andromeda stays. She has to choose between her own safety- or Magnus who, heaven help her, she's fallen for.
“I chuckled, shaking my head. “Are we really going to argue over who’s sorrier?”
“Of course we are,” Magnus said, grinning. “You act like you’ve never met us.”
This was such a random read for me- the cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. But i'm actually so glad I decided to read this and more people need to give it a try- it's such an underrated fantasy!! 🥰🥰
There was a lot of things I really liked about this book!! ✨️ It was the perfect combination of fast-paced story, bingeable writing and interesting plot that made me unable to put it down 🫶🫶 There was a lot of action going on and it jumped right into the story, so i was flying through this. Fantasy books tend to be on the longer side but this one was under 350 pages, which made it such an easy and enjoyable read 🤩
The worldbuilding in this book was also so interesting!! 😍🫶 Apparently it's Ethiopian-inspired, which is a culture I don't know anything about so the world was super unique for me. It was such a fascinating world and I liked the atmosphere of the castle possessed by evil in the middle of the desert. The Evil Eye and the Manifestations of it were also something super unique, which made the book really enjoyable 💙💙
Other things I really liked:
♧ The mc Andromeda was a super fierce fmc but she had depth, which I did enjoy.
♧ Some of the moments in the romance had me swooning, it was just soo wholesome 🥹🥹
“If I look at all the bad in my life along with the good, the bad would bury the good in a landslide. My spirit, my will to live, would shrivel and die. So, instead, I choose to be thankful for what little good I have.”
However, there were a couple things i didn't absolutely love, those being:
➳ The ending fell a bit flat for me. I was really enjoying the plot and then it just... ended. The way it wrapped up felt very easy and predictable to me, which was kinda annoying 😕😕
➳ While i did think the romance was super cute at times and i liked how obsessed Magnus was with her, it felt wayyy too rushed 😬😬 I love a good slowburn and for me, the relationship just developed way too quickly for me to become super invested in it. Not neccessarily instalove, but they definitely caught feelings very soon on in the story, which was a bit disappointing 😭🙈
“Say you’re only here for a patronage, that you don’t care for me at all, and I’ll leave you to your work.” He cradled my face and I closed my eyes to press back tears. “Because if you dare leave me a shred of hope, I will fight to have you with the last drop of blood in my body.” ~ he is down BAD 🤭
“There was a pause, long enough that it felt as if I’d given too much away. As if the word “love” was hovering at the front of my brain again, and he could read it like a sheet of paper.”
Overall, tho, a super enjoyable and underrated fantasy!! 🥰🥰 Would recommend if you want:
✔ Jane Eyre retelling
✔ Super unique, Ethiopian-inspired world
✔ Fast-paced + easy to read
✔ Fun fantasy standalone
It was surprisingly good! 💙💙🫶🫶
《 2023 Challenge: Book 115 of 110!! 》
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed this!! 🥰🥰 Super interesting worldbuilding, fast-paced and a cute romance- it was a very entertaining fantasy 💙💙🫶🫶
RTC!
This was a super entertaining fantasy read!! 🤩🤩 I literally haven't ever seen anyone talk about this so I wasn't sure if i would like it, but it was really fun. If you're looking for interesting worldbuilding, great writing + fast-paced story, then this is the book for you! 💙💙🫶🫶
“The number of insufferable people who could fit in one house was beginning to feel unrealistic.”
Pitched as an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling, Within These Wicked Walls follows our mc Andromeda who is a debtera- an exorcist who is hired to cleanse households of the Evil. However, she can't get any work after being thrown out by her mentor before getting a license. She needs to get a Patron to vouch for her abilities and when Magnus, a handsome heir, reaches out, it seems perfect. But this job is more than Andromeda is equipped for- every previous debtera has given up and death is the most likely outcome if Andromeda stays. She has to choose between her own safety- or Magnus who, heaven help her, she's fallen for.
“I chuckled, shaking my head. “Are we really going to argue over who’s sorrier?”
“Of course we are,” Magnus said, grinning. “You act like you’ve never met us.”
This was such a random read for me- the cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. But i'm actually so glad I decided to read this and more people need to give it a try- it's such an underrated fantasy!! 🥰🥰
There was a lot of things I really liked about this book!! ✨️ It was the perfect combination of fast-paced story, bingeable writing and interesting plot that made me unable to put it down 🫶🫶 There was a lot of action going on and it jumped right into the story, so i was flying through this. Fantasy books tend to be on the longer side but this one was under 350 pages, which made it such an easy and enjoyable read 🤩
The worldbuilding in this book was also so interesting!! 😍🫶 Apparently it's Ethiopian-inspired, which is a culture I don't know anything about so the world was super unique for me. It was such a fascinating world and I liked the atmosphere of the castle possessed by evil in the middle of the desert. The Evil Eye and the Manifestations of it were also something super unique, which made the book really enjoyable 💙💙
Other things I really liked:
♧ The mc Andromeda was a super fierce fmc but she had depth, which I did enjoy.
♧ Some of the moments in the romance had me swooning, it was just soo wholesome 🥹🥹
“If I look at all the bad in my life along with the good, the bad would bury the good in a landslide. My spirit, my will to live, would shrivel and die. So, instead, I choose to be thankful for what little good I have.”
However, there were a couple things i didn't absolutely love, those being:
➳ The ending fell a bit flat for me. I was really enjoying the plot and then it just... ended. The way it wrapped up felt very easy and predictable to me, which was kinda annoying 😕😕
➳ While i did think the romance was super cute at times and i liked how obsessed Magnus was with her, it felt wayyy too rushed 😬😬 I love a good slowburn and for me, the relationship just developed way too quickly for me to become super invested in it. Not neccessarily instalove, but they definitely caught feelings very soon on in the story, which was a bit disappointing 😭🙈
“Say you’re only here for a patronage, that you don’t care for me at all, and I’ll leave you to your work.” He cradled my face and I closed my eyes to press back tears. “Because if you dare leave me a shred of hope, I will fight to have you with the last drop of blood in my body.” ~ he is down BAD 🤭
“There was a pause, long enough that it felt as if I’d given too much away. As if the word “love” was hovering at the front of my brain again, and he could read it like a sheet of paper.”
Overall, tho, a super enjoyable and underrated fantasy!! 🥰🥰 Would recommend if you want:
✔ Jane Eyre retelling
✔ Super unique, Ethiopian-inspired world
✔ Fast-paced + easy to read
✔ Fun fantasy standalone
It was surprisingly good! 💙💙🫶🫶
《 2023 Challenge: Book 115 of 110!! 》
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I really enjoyed this!! 🥰🥰 Super interesting worldbuilding, fast-paced and a cute romance- it was a very entertaining fantasy 💙💙🫶🫶
RTC!
January 4, 2023
1.5 stars
December 21, 2021
my quest to get through old Netgalley arcs before 2021 has begun~
I had no idea this was a Jane Eyre retelling so once I found that out I went into it with lower expectations. That being said, it still wasn’t bad but nothing memorable unfortunately. I thought this would focus more on the fantasy aspect but there was a lot of romance and it was insta-love of all things. I don’t know even know what Andi saw in Magnus. He was a spoiled brat and I feel like their romance was forced so I didn’t care for that. I liked her relationship dynamic exploration with Jember, the closest thing she has to a father figure. I thought it was interesting as well as the world building and the descriptions of the first few chapters were really well done. Magnus just really went in and ruined everything for me.
Overall, a solid book that was also a quick read but I will soon forget about it sadly. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy. Onto my next old arc wish me luck!!
I had no idea this was a Jane Eyre retelling so once I found that out I went into it with lower expectations. That being said, it still wasn’t bad but nothing memorable unfortunately. I thought this would focus more on the fantasy aspect but there was a lot of romance and it was insta-love of all things. I don’t know even know what Andi saw in Magnus. He was a spoiled brat and I feel like their romance was forced so I didn’t care for that. I liked her relationship dynamic exploration with Jember, the closest thing she has to a father figure. I thought it was interesting as well as the world building and the descriptions of the first few chapters were really well done. Magnus just really went in and ruined everything for me.
Overall, a solid book that was also a quick read but I will soon forget about it sadly. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy. Onto my next old arc wish me luck!!
Read
January 12, 2022DNF at 40% ish
This book was just poorly executed. I was really into it at first but the romance was too fast paced, the world building was non existent, the plot seemed to be moving too slow (how urgent could it be if our MC was barely doing her job?), and it overall was not for me.
This book was just poorly executed. I was really into it at first but the romance was too fast paced, the world building was non existent, the plot seemed to be moving too slow (how urgent could it be if our MC was barely doing her job?), and it overall was not for me.
Read
October 9, 2020A delight!!!
November 4, 2021
This tanked hard
July 28, 2022
My Jane Eyre loving heart has swooned! This book was absolute perfection!
October 18, 2021
Almost any JANE EYRE retelling gets me excited but an Ethiopian-inspired one made me look not once, not twice, but thrice. Having said that, other than some very basic bones of said original, this deviates a lot from the majority of the story -- and honestly I think it succeeded because of that.
Andromeda is this version's Jane who comes to Thornfield, to Rochester -- Magnus, in this case -- not to be a governess but to exorcise the Manifestations that are haunting the castle, and it's master, from an inherited curse. I don't know that I ever fully understood how she was capable of doing this, it involved goggles and a welding pen (steampunky, almost, I guess) to make amulets that were suited to each element of the curse, and then.. voila. She takes this job, what she learns is an impossible job, to guarantee her patronage and recognition as a debtera aka exorcist. But, much like the original, Magnus is often distracting Andi from her job, longing for attention, lonely and entitled, and fascinated by this person who resists him, speaks truths to his face, and is also fiercely capable.
From then on I won't say which parts are new or true or how it all plays out but honestly other than a few scenes that I think tried too hard to force themselves into the original story.. this was totally captivating. I maybe would've liked to see more build up to their relationship, maybe because I enjoyed their earlier prickly interactions so much and didn't feel as much chemistry after a certain point, but the rest of the story, the world, kept it strong. There was a secondary relationship that I thought was both adorable and also maybe took some focus away from other dynamics I would've liked to be stronger but.. it helped humanize, and soften, a character that definitely needed it. And made some later moments perhaps a little more believable.
Vague vagueries, oooh, spooky.
If you want a somewhat dark, atmospheric, yet also occasionally playful, diverse fantasy, that happens to harken back to a well known classic tale, you should absolutely have this not only on your radar but on your TBR. Considering this is Blackwood's debut, I can't wait to see what she cooks up next.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Andromeda is this version's Jane who comes to Thornfield, to Rochester -- Magnus, in this case -- not to be a governess but to exorcise the Manifestations that are haunting the castle, and it's master, from an inherited curse. I don't know that I ever fully understood how she was capable of doing this, it involved goggles and a welding pen (steampunky, almost, I guess) to make amulets that were suited to each element of the curse, and then.. voila. She takes this job, what she learns is an impossible job, to guarantee her patronage and recognition as a debtera aka exorcist. But, much like the original, Magnus is often distracting Andi from her job, longing for attention, lonely and entitled, and fascinated by this person who resists him, speaks truths to his face, and is also fiercely capable.
From then on I won't say which parts are new or true or how it all plays out but honestly other than a few scenes that I think tried too hard to force themselves into the original story.. this was totally captivating. I maybe would've liked to see more build up to their relationship, maybe because I enjoyed their earlier prickly interactions so much and didn't feel as much chemistry after a certain point, but the rest of the story, the world, kept it strong. There was a secondary relationship that I thought was both adorable and also maybe took some focus away from other dynamics I would've liked to be stronger but.. it helped humanize, and soften, a character that definitely needed it. And made some later moments perhaps a little more believable.
Vague vagueries, oooh, spooky.
If you want a somewhat dark, atmospheric, yet also occasionally playful, diverse fantasy, that happens to harken back to a well known classic tale, you should absolutely have this not only on your radar but on your TBR. Considering this is Blackwood's debut, I can't wait to see what she cooks up next.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
May 29, 2021
4.5 stars. I loved this Ethiopian-inspired fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre. It has gore, romance, rooms filled with blood, books that attack, everything you could ask for.
Andromeda is desperate to make a living after having been kicked out of her home by the abusive man that raised her. She is a debtera, someone who cleanses homes from the Evil Eye. She takes on an impossible job that no one else has dared to touch. When she meets her handsome new employer, she slowly learns that her task is much harder than she imagined and that her boss is hiding more than he let on.
I loved Andromeda’s character. She’s tough, funny, and very determined. Magnus was great too, slow to recognize how spoiled he is, but ready to charm Andi’s socks off. Their relationship was very insta-lovey, which is probably my only critique of this novel. Otherwise, I loved it!
I also liked that the reader is eased into the story, rather than provided with lots of info-dumping and world-building. The world-building is there, but it’s gradual.
I will read anything else that Lauren Blackwood decides to write!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this amazing digital ARC.
Andromeda is desperate to make a living after having been kicked out of her home by the abusive man that raised her. She is a debtera, someone who cleanses homes from the Evil Eye. She takes on an impossible job that no one else has dared to touch. When she meets her handsome new employer, she slowly learns that her task is much harder than she imagined and that her boss is hiding more than he let on.
I loved Andromeda’s character. She’s tough, funny, and very determined. Magnus was great too, slow to recognize how spoiled he is, but ready to charm Andi’s socks off. Their relationship was very insta-lovey, which is probably my only critique of this novel. Otherwise, I loved it!
I also liked that the reader is eased into the story, rather than provided with lots of info-dumping and world-building. The world-building is there, but it’s gradual.
I will read anything else that Lauren Blackwood decides to write!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this amazing digital ARC.
January 11, 2022
DNF at pg. 145
I was really looking forward to this, so I'm disappointed that it ended up a DNF. I think it's a historical but with supernatural elements, but that wasn't really clear because there was no worldbuilding. In fact, I wouldn't even know this was Ethiopian-based if I hadn't googled debtera and seen other reviews stating that info. Also, I kind of had trouble understanding the magic, because there was really no context for it. Finally, pg. 133 seems a little premature for love confessions, particularly when the hero (who is frivolous to the point of disbelief, and just ignores another character talking down to the heroine repeatedly) is engaged to another person and doesn't even tell the heroine about it before kissing her. In every Jane Eyre retelling I've read, the Mr. Rochester character really doesn't translate well when updated.
So yeah, not for me.
I was really looking forward to this, so I'm disappointed that it ended up a DNF. I think it's a historical but with supernatural elements, but that wasn't really clear because there was no worldbuilding. In fact, I wouldn't even know this was Ethiopian-based if I hadn't googled debtera and seen other reviews stating that info. Also, I kind of had trouble understanding the magic, because there was really no context for it. Finally, pg. 133 seems a little premature for love confessions, particularly when the hero (who is frivolous to the point of disbelief, and just ignores another character talking down to the heroine repeatedly) is engaged to another person and doesn't even tell the heroine about it before kissing her. In every Jane Eyre retelling I've read, the Mr. Rochester character really doesn't translate well when updated.
So yeah, not for me.
December 19, 2021
Update: After further contemplation about the cultural aspects of this book, I’m updating my rating to 3 stars.
Unpopular opinion, but this book about bored me to tears. I loved the fact that it’s a Jane Eyre retelling with POC characters. And the dialogue wasn’t bad, but I considered DNFing it a few times because it moved so slowly. I also didn’t care for the romance, as it felt hollow and predictable.
This book, though many loved it, just wasn’t thrilling for me and I honestly couldn’t wait for it to be over. 2.5 stars only because of the Ethiopian folklore and customs added, it was a creative way to tell an already well-known story.
Unpopular opinion, but this book about bored me to tears. I loved the fact that it’s a Jane Eyre retelling with POC characters. And the dialogue wasn’t bad, but I considered DNFing it a few times because it moved so slowly. I also didn’t care for the romance, as it felt hollow and predictable.
This book, though many loved it, just wasn’t thrilling for me and I honestly couldn’t wait for it to be over. 2.5 stars only because of the Ethiopian folklore and customs added, it was a creative way to tell an already well-known story.
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