It’s been quite a while since I read Jane Eyre, and I honestly don’t remember much about it. It was the mention of Andromeda being an exorcist that hooked my horror-loving heart and made me request this book.

I’m thrilled this story is set in Ethiopia and incorporates some of the traditional food and dress. It’s nice to find a YA book not set in the US or UK. Gothic overtones are apparent the minute Andi crosses the theshold of Magnus’s home, and she’s informed of the house rules almost immediately. The most important is to be in your locked bedroom by 10pm (that’s when the Waking begins) if you want to live to see the next day. Over the past three years, nearly a dozen debteras have tried and failed to cleanse the household, and it seems like Andi is the last hope. Homeless before this position, she’s determined to succeed and also gain Magnus’s patronage when the job is completed.

Andi is a no nonsense kind of gal who’s learned to survive the hardships of life. Sold by her parents at the age of five, she was taken in by a well-known debtera who probably had no business raising a child. But he taught her some valuable lessons. I didn’t know what to think of Magnus at first. He comes across as gruff, spoiled, and a tad clueless, but once the secrets of the house are revealed, his moods make sense. He’s also a scene stealer with some lines that are laugh out loud funny. It’s not hard to predict a romance between these two is on the horizon, but Andi’s mood swings from one sentence to the next during their conversations nearly gave me whiplash. Since I’m not much of a romance reader, that could just be me.

The magic system isn’t something I’ve come across before. Debtera create amulets from silver and other materials, each being unique to the manifestation. Amulets can both protect the exorcist and also drive away the Evil Eye and everything connected to it. The ghost in the library who throws books at intruders is my favorite – she probably just wanted to read undisturbed. I get it.

With no major twists or surprises, the ending is predictable, but that didn’t hinder me from enjoying this story. It’s an impressive debut novel, and I’ll absolutely keep tabs on this author and look for her future releases.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a great retelling of the classic novel Jane Eyre with totally new elements and a setting that makes the story fresh. I think teens will really enjoy the fast pace and the ingenuity of the main character Andromeda and the mysterious and tragic love interest.
The only thing that really bugged me was the focus on the relationship between Andromeda and Jember. There seemed to be a lot of focus on redeeming him. He had abused Andromeda earlier in her life, and it seemed a little odd that so much of the story was focused on making him seem--not so bad? Like the fact that he called her "his daughter" in the last few pages makes up for the fact that he beat her up and kicked her out.
Other than that, this story was a lot of fun from beginning to end.

Within These Wicked Walls has everything I love in a story: witty banter, so much romantic chemistry, and a cursed house with an equally cursed (and also very cute) owner. I adored Andromeda's forthright voice, her stubborness, and her sense of humor. This book weaves a perfect blend of spooky atmosphere with heartfelt emotions.

I didn’t expect to sit down and finish a book in one sitting, but here we are.

This book was absolutely amazing. From the beginning, I was in love with Andi (or Andromeda). Her no-nonsense attitude was plain as day in the very first lines of the book. Growing up under the tutelage of a gruff, bitter man—he trained her to be all business. And that business was staying alive despite the Evil Eye and its darkness. She had trained to be a Debtera (aka excorcist) almost her entire life. So when Magnus, the rich chocolatier and owner of a cursed castle, hires her for an impossible job, the promise of not living on the streets and a patronage is too tempting to ignore.

There is a lovely gothic feel to the story, sprinkled with just the right amount of horror and suspense. Adi’s emotions are written so well and it was a joy and an adventure being in her head. There wasn’t a lull in the plot at all, and I found myself at points even holding my breath.

Even the characters you don’t like at first, you end up loving. Adi takes the same journey—through blood, stubbornness, and a whirlwind romance.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Just be prepared to spend the rest of your day reading once you pick it up.

♥♥ ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ♥♥