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.

[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious Blog on 3/30/22]

I devoured this book in one sitting and basically lived my best life on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Within These Wicked Walls has characters you will both love and hate (sometimes at the same time!) with their own motivations and histories, succinctly developed worldbuilding to sweep you away, and the horrors of bleeding walls to add a sense of dread and danger.

"It's said the Evil Eye was the first Manifestation of sin - namely jealousy and greed. In a constant state of longing, it latches onto any human who desires the same thing it does."

Within These Wicked Walls is fast-paced with high-stakes action that is fairly consistent throughout the course of the book, which is unlike typical books in the Gothic genre. Because of the nature of the Evil Eye and Andromeda being hired to exorcise it, the horrors of the house are up front and center and there isn't much time spent building a general feeling of unease. The fast pace, tight plotting, and character banter make this a fantastic read for horror readers who typically find Gothic pacing cumbersome.

"For a moment, our souls spoke to each other a single truth, shutting out all the anger and shame. In that moment we both wanted each other, deeply and honestly."

The relationship that develops between Magnus and Andromeda gave me all of the yearning feelings. Both of them long for a connection and both slowly warm up to one another as their working relationship progresses. Their chemistry is palpable and I loved the quick-witted barbs they throw at each other. The romance is sweet and I found myself smiling during their encounters more than once.

"I turned to see blood leaking down the walls from the ceiling."

Overall, I am incredibly impressed by Blackwood's debut novel! She took Jane Eyre and made it her own with an Ethiopian-inspired world (and turned up the horror!), and cannot wait to read what she write next. This is a fantastic read for Spooky Season or any time of year when you want a little bit of romance and a little bit of horror. I read along with the audiobook and 10/10 would recommend!

Content warnings: blood, body horror, death, physical and emotional abuse

eARC provided by Wednesday Books by Netgalley for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subjet to change upon final publication.

This story was way more romantic than I thought it would be. I choose this book solely due to the cover so when I started I had no clue of the content. Although the storyline is not my usual I enjoyed the story regardless. The story was pretty face-paced and action-packed. So around all that Lauren was able to add a romance between Addy and Magnus. They were connected pretty quickly and although Magnus knew Addy is tough and is way less truthful, I good enjoyed it all I'm all

The character is not described within the book as ethnically ambiguous as the cover presents. The cover seems white-washed, which is very unfortunate. I liked the reimaging aspect of this and even the world built, but the moment the romance started, everything went downhill.

I really liked this one! I thought that it was a really good level of creepy, but not too much. I really liked the main character, and I liked the different parts of the house. The ending was really good. Overall really enjoyed it and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This has been one of the most captivating e-books I have read in a while. Each character was fleshed out really well and the atmosphere was a perfect blend of fantasy and reality. I will definitely continue to pick up books by this author.

DNF 37%. This book was unfortunately didn’t captivate my full attention. The storyline itself was interesting but the characters were not well fleshed out in my opinion. I had a hard time with the main character specifically, she wasn’t very interesting and felt a bit flat.

Loved this book. It definitely had Jane Eyer vibes but with a modern, supernatural twists. Really enjoyed the ride.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.***