Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood
A dark, lush fantasy set in a dangerous, magical jungle. The romance simmers, but the real standout is the unique setting and atmosphere. Great for readers who love vivid world-building.

sadly, not my favorite of hers. I appreciated the story, but there was something lacking in the characterization that i wasn't able to connect to.

This was a fun book but I struggled with the writing style. I really enjoyed the last book by this author but this one was missing some of the same magic. By the end I was also struggling with the plot, it wasn’t engaging enough.

Victoria has been forced to work as a guide with the Exotic Lands Touring Company since she was six years old, and things are worse than ever now that her ex Dean has been promoted over her. Her last hope is to successfully guide Thorn, a high-profile client, safely to the depths of the jungle - but as she grows closer to him, she begins to wonder if there's a life out there for in the broader world.

I wanted to like this book so badly! It started out fairly interesting - the stakes were immediately high and the what we saw of the jungle and Victoria's world was exciting. I settled down expecting some adventure, some romance, and an exciting fantasy world, but unfortunately in the end Wildblood did not deliver.

I did find the glimpses we got of the creatures and spirits in the jungle to be fascinating, and was excited by how the author explored themes of environmental exploitation and colonialism. The jungle is a foreboding yet beautiful place, and I liked how the author showed both those views through Victoria's eyes.

Unfortunately, the main focus of the book quickly narrows onto the insta-romance between Victoria and Thorn, which is one of the least convincing relationships I have read in a long time. While there were some touching moments between them, especially the scene where Thorn comforts a shattered Victoria about her past, for the most part it just seemed too intense too quickly. The secondary characters, including ones who are ostensibly like family to Victoria, are barely developed and I could not make myself care about them.

More frustrating to me was that the world-building is never fully explored. Why are Wildbloods so reviled and what is their place in the world? What on earth is going beyond the confines of the touring company and the jungle? Where did Victoria come from, and where can she go after the end of the book? A few more answers would have at least left me less frustrated.

Do not recommend.

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

Wildblood has its moments that are really intriguing and cool and other moments that are deeply rooted in the relationships that Victoria has made. When Wildblood is good it is really good. At other times it feels like it drags a bit and because it does have more good parts then dragging parts I rated it 4 stars.

Wildblood is a high-concept fantasy novel that has a really interesting power system and a slew of jungle fantasy creatures that were all unique and interesting to read about. I think ultimately that the beautiful setting and the fantasy of Wildblood is an embellishment. What Wildblood is truly about is Victoria.

Victoria is discovering who she is and how she wants to live her life. Where her heart belongs and who it belongs to. She’s also healing from being raped and working through the betrayal and how it affects her approach to love.

Wildblood is a story full of lush jungle nature and fantasy. I enjoyed my time with Wildblood and I was satisfied with Victorias choice in the end.

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but it has been two years and I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

I wanted to love this one but PHEW was I so bored and wanted to give up several times. I loved the idea of this book. A sentient forest, Jamaican folklore, beasts and monsters and a unique magic system. However the execution just wasn’t there.

Honestly not much happened at all, I found myself zoning out so often that certain parts I couldn’t even tell you what happened. The forest even though the characters were exploring through it.. barely had a role and there really weren’t a lot of “monster” sightings and it all just felt very bland.

Made me sad but I should have DNF’d it. I wa just excited and thought maybe it would get better. There was almost this strange hate/love love triangle and I was confused 🥲. Overall, it just wasn’t for me!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I think that the concept for this book was really interesting but the execution didn’t quite live up to the premise. I found the writing in this one to be a little disjointed.

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

My favorite part of this book was probably the setting. Being set in the Jamaican jungle added a certain new level to the story that I wasn't expecting. Overall, this is an enjoyable YA fantasy read, but I will admit that I wanted more answers to some of the ideas presented in the story. It felt unfinished, or unexplained in some areas.

Wildblood though will thrill teen readers and keep them interested, I just personally wanted a little more from it.

I did not care for the MC and so my enjoyment of this book wavered as I read on. It was the storyline and supporting characters that kept me reading.

I started this one a while ago, and it just couldn’t catch my attention. I may come back to it another time, but I have to put it on pause for now. If I ever pick it up again I will update my review!

Magical Jamaican Fantasy Novel

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a young adult fantasy novel set in a magical version of Victorian-era Jamaica. The story follows 18-year-old Victoria, who was kidnapped at the age of six and forced to work for the Exotic Lands Touring Company. Victoria is a Wildblood, possessing unique magical abilities that allow her to manipulate the jungle and its inhabitants.

Wildblood is a captivating fantasy novel that offers a unique blend of adventure, magic, and social commentary. Its strengths lie in its vivid setting, complex protagonist, and the exploration of significant themes. However, the book's weaknesses include its occasionally uneven pacing and underdeveloped romantic subplot. Overall, Lauren Blackwood's Wildblood is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and historical fiction.

For those interested in a fantasy novel that delves into the complexities of colonialism and personal identity while offering a lush, magical setting, Wildblood is worth exploring.

I really enjoyed the magic system and jungle in Wildblood. However. I think the jungle was developed more than any actual character in the novel. It would have been nice to learn more about what happened with Victoria as a child. And the ending just left me bewildered. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I just wonder why it took so long...
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I found the plot and premise very interesting. The world was well imagined and described. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Victoria and Thorn though. And I found the end to be a bit of anticlimax but I did still enjoy the book.

The concept for this book was intriguing to me. A girl kidnapped when she was very young and then working as a tour guide - and set in Jamaica! However, the writing just didn’t do it for me, and I didn’t connect with the romance part of this at all. I think it was just the “Insta-love” trope that I wasn’t into for this book. I really enjoyed the Jamaican folklore bits, and the ending was wrapped up in a satisfying way, but I didn’t love the book as a whole.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Victoria, kidnapped as a child due to her powers, is now a Wildblood. Wildbloods are people with powers forced by the company to lead tourists safely through the jungle. When one mission has them taking a miner into the depths of the jungle in hopes of gold, Victoria is skipped over for the promotion she deserves. And of course, it's her ex who she must work with to safely guide the client in hopes of riches.

What I 🤍:
🌴 Rainforest Setting
🪄 Magical Powers
💕 Second Chance Romance
🗺️ Adventure Plot

The premise of this plot was well thought out. Although, when reading, at times I felt it dragged in some areas, and left me wanting more in others. I wish there had been more background into why the Wildbloods started and how it was able to continue. Great start for a debut author.