This one started out so well. But as the story went on it just got boring. The writing was meh and the I hated the characters.

Andromeda is a debtera - someone who exorcises the Evil Eye from households.
She is looking for patronage after a disagreement with her mentor and finds herself working for Magnus Rochester.
Andromeda soon realises that she may have bitten off more than she can chew but is determined to see the job through. Even if it means risking her heart and her life.

The concept for this book immediately intrigued me - an Ethiopian Jane Eyre retelling - and the cover certainly didn't hurt.
Andromeda was a likeable and relatable protagonist. She hadn't had the easiest upbringing, but was still an optimistic person, which I liked.
Magnus was a mixed character for me, as I liked him most of the time, but did find him to be a bit of a spoiled brat at times. I also felt that he was a bit 2D and could have done with some fleshing out.
Jember, Andromeda's mentor, was interesting and I enjoyed finding out more about him.
The setting of the house was interesting, and I liked the concepts of the amulets and different Manifestations. However, I would have liked a bit more world-building.
The romance was sweet at times, and I liked the banter, but it happened a little too quickly for my liking, but that's because I prefer slow burns.
The plot was interesting and held my attention throughout, but I did find myself becoming a little bored towards the end and wasn't as invested as I could have been.
The writing style was easy to follow, and I would definitely consider reading another book by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

was gifted this book in addition to the digital arc so it's special to me <3
loved reading this, it was spooky and chilly and i enjoyed it a lot. the romance was..not There all the time. honestly it felt a little red-flaggy and a little more insta-lovey but overall it was ok!

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an early review.

I enjoyed the Jane Eyre retelling element of this book. However, it was a little slow for me. Once it got going it was action-packed a joy to read.

Within These Wicked Walls is a retelling of Jane Eyre. As a fan of the classic, I was eager to read this book. This novel seem to lack the charm of the original. I also did not like the fantasy aspects of the novel. Thus, this novel had potential but the author could not pull it off. Still, I recommend this for fans of Jane Eyre.

I picked this because a friend recommended it, and because they said it was like a paranormal Jane Eyre retelling. They weren’t kidding. There are definitely some fantastical elements involved, and a very unique magic system. I enjoyed the book. I won’t say it’s one of my favorites, but it’s worth the read.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

Wow, this book was amazing. Beautifully written with a heartbreakingly good ending.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley via the publisher in return for an honest review.

People stated this was supposed to be a retelling if Jane Eyre but I don't see it. Despite this I honestly really enjoyed this book. Our MC works to vanquish curses from a nobles home in return for a patron. I enjoyed the main character Andy it was interesting to watch her character develop. We learn about her tragic backstory and why she was adopted. Lauren writes about a world that seems like present day. Though I do still question how and where the evil eye (the curse) comes from and why.

The story is fast paced and pulls you in. I was dying to know what happened next sand couldn't wait to read more. I almost hope that it would be turned into a series for more. Though it ended nicely enough as a stand novel.

This was a surprise favorite read for me this year so far! A definite recommend!

An eerie, mysterious, atmospheric fantasy with strong undertones of horror, this Ethopian-inspired YA gothic novel tells a spooky story unravelling in a haunted castle and around characters with varied motivations but essentially in the midst of an unfolding romance that could've been so much more.

Within These Wicked Walls is a reimagining of Jane Eyre with paranormal and fantastical elements woven into it.

I binged this book in less than twelve hours. I’d had it on my TBR since way before it was released, but naturally, I pushed it off for months and months, as one does. I’m so glad that I finally picked it up! Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classics, and I loved how this book gave glimpses of it yet had its own twists and turns. I loved the characters, the relationships, and the mystery. I couldn’t believe how quickly I flew through it and would highly recommend!

Content warning for violence, death, blood, loss of loved ones.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC of Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.

I don't really know how to feel about this one. The short chapters were nice, and I really liked the main character, Andi, and her relationships with some of the side characters (who were, for the most part, pretty likable). I also loved the horror aspects and the way the castle brought them to life. Unfortunately, I have to admit I hated the instalove in this book, though I'll admit the banter was cute. I just felt that Andi and Magnus's romance progressed too fast for my taste, and the angst felt unnecessary and mostly annoyed me. Generally, I think I would have loved this book so much more if it were longer and had more room to develop everything, but I still enjoyed it!

Oh my goodness, THIS BOOK!! It was utterly, completely, and totally phenomenal. I am in love with it. (and Magnus)(and Andi).
First of all, the magic system is phenomenally crafted. We follow Andromeda (or Andi), a debtera hired by the (initially) mysterious Magnus to cleanse his manor of The Evil Eye ominous noises commence. There's not a lot I can say about what in the realm of Magic System made me love this one so much without spoiling anything, but, in short, it's very creative and based on the crafting of amulets which I haven't seen in any other book.
Second of all, the characters in this novel are chef's kiss! I love how feisty Andi is, how flirty Magnus is (though he can be a bit of a pick-me *insert side-eye and eye roll*), and, most of all, THE BANTER. I love some good banter.
I also must mention the Ethiopean mythology prevalent throughout the novel and added so much to the reading experience! I also found my mouth watering on multiple occasions from googling traditional meals that I will probably be trying out soon. I'd also like to mention that I thought it was weird how pale cover Andi was, considering she is said to have dark skin *aggressive side-eye*.
You would think a gothic aesthetic set in the middle of a desert might not work out, but Lauren Blackwood will prove you wrong swiftly on that front. It was the perfect amount of creepy, and the imagery used to portray the manifestations of the Evil Eye was stunningly and eerily written, much like everything else in Within These Wicked Walls.
The only things that I found not-so-perfect were the speed at which the romance developed (it felt rather rushed, and the conflicts within it petty at times) and the fact that the plot was slightly predictable sometimes.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if you want some good banter, a spooky read with an impeccable setting that is a special kind of atmospheric.
P.S. I would highly recommend this for readers that enjoyed Down Comes the Night, but I can't quite explain why.

Unfortunately this read wasn't suited for me, however I believe will be suited to many others who love this genre.

I received this novel in an Arc format however I didn’t get a chance to read it until April 2022. I got into the first couple chapters and loved it so much. I ended up borrowing the audiobook from my library so I could keep listening to the story while running around for Easter holidays. The story really comes alive with the audiobook. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being able to flip from listening to reading and how easy it was to imagine the story in both formats! Definitely looking forward to ready more from Lauren!

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda who is a debtera. Andi has been hired to cleanse a house marked by the Evil Eye. Inside will she find more than she bargained for in magic and love?

I enjoyed this read. It was fast and simple. The magic system was well thought out and interesting. I loved all the amulets. When I was reading about this book everyone kept saying it was a Jane Eyre retelling, and honestly in the most loose sense sure, but I found the connections small at best. I enjoyed the heck out of this gothic horror YA.

Definitely will commend this book for capturing the essence of the originally Jane Eyre but still being its own.
Unfortunately I disliked the originally and was hoping this book would offer more that I disliked from the classic, however I disliked how fast and abrupted the love between Magnus and Andromeda which was such a contrast to how drawn out the storyline was.

However the magic system and the cursed house/spirit situation in a Victorian setting was very cool! Definitely the saving grace and why I continued the book.

BUT, even though this book wasn't my favourite my mum just finished and LOVED IT!

I don't like Jane Eyre but I do like diverse retellings so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I found it boring with incredibly weak worldbuilding. Also, given that it's based in Ethiopia, why is the girl on the cover so pale when in the book she is described as having dark skin?

This is a debut, standalone fantasy novel marketed as a Jane Eyre retelling. I have to be completely honest and let you know that I actually haven't read Jane Eyre yet (I know, I know... the classics are on my never-ending TBR list lol) so I went into this with a completely open mind and basically no back story. I ended up really liking this book, and am looking forward to whatever she comes out with next!

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda (or Andi for short), a debtera hired to cleanse a house of the Evil Eye and all of its manifestations. I will admit, it took me a bit to wrap my head around what I was reading - we get off to a bit of a slow start in the beginning, but once things picked up and I really understood a debtera and their job, the book moved along much quicker!

I loved Magnus and his humour, even when he wasn't trying to be funny lol! His personality was on point, and I really liked the conversations between him and Andromeda. I was also a fan of Jember, though I'm not sure I was supposed to be haha. I just felt like I really understood where he was coming from, and how he felt that everything he did was for the betterment of Andi. I don't want to say too much more, just know that I liked his character alot! And then of course, we have the main female lead Andromeda. It was great watching Andi grow into the character she becomes at the end. I tip my hat to the author for being able to write her changes throughout the book while keeping her core essence the same. It made her growth realistic and relatable.

The plot itself was quite interesting and unique in my opinion! Once the story really got going, I loved everything about it. I almost wanted to see and read about more manifestations! They were so cool! I feel like things ended the way they should have, and I love that this was a standalone that wrapped up nicely. Great debut!

The tension in this book is exquisite. The book was fantastic as it’s own thing or as a retelling. High schoolers and older readers will love it.