Rating: 4.5⭐️ rounded up

This is the second book I read by this author, and I am once again amazed by how she weaves folklore and trauma together to create deeply meaningful stories. If you get into this book as a fantasy romance, you might be disappointed, because it isn’t really that. This is a story about racism, colorism, ecotourism, colonialism, trauma and healing with fantastical elements that were inspired by Jamaican folklore and a sprinkle of romance that is mostly there as a vehicle for the MC.

Most of the negative reviews I’ve seen of this book couldn’t look past the weak romance, because it’s insta love, and a little cheesy/unbelievable at times. However, IMO, romance is not the point of this at all. Thorn’s love helps support her when she really needs it, helps her find her strength, and helps her heal, but it is not supposed to be the greatest deepest love of her life, that is the jungle. Though what I did really appreciate about Thorn was how fully he trusted her and gave her space to be the powerful badass Wildblood she is.

The jungle was probably my favorite part of this world, with its ghosts, deadly animals and a siren-like river spirit. I loved the bond between the jungle, its inhabitants and Victoria. I could read a whole separate cozy fantasy book set in this jungle.

Victoria is a great MC, she is strong willed, loving, selfless and powerful. She’s trying to survive in a brutal world. Her abusive boss, and ex best friend force her on an excursion that goes against everything she knows is right, but she also believes this is the only way to get those she loves a better life. Throughout this excursion, there are times you just want her to destroy every human, but her vengeance is more nuanced, as she’s trying to figure out where her moral lines lie. Her character development is beautiful to see from beginning to end, seeing her be able to assert herself, fully embrace her badassery, and heal at least some of her trauma in the process.

The other Wildbloods were very nuanced characters as well. All having gone through similar trauma, it’s difficult to put them in a box of good guy or bad guy, really making you feel the dilemma that Victoria is put in at times that she holds their fate in her hands.

That ending!! The ending completely makes this book. Everything I was unsure about while reading was wrapped up meaningfully at the end. It was beautiful and a little sad. But it was the best ending this book could have had, the one I would want for Victoria.

I found this book impossible to put down, with so many emotional, meaningful and gripping moments, I read it in one sitting. However it’s also not an easy read, it tackles a lot of deep and heavy issues, (you might want to check the CWs before reading).

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood

A haunted jungle full of dangerous monsters—animal and human.

This is a fantasy so real you’ll feel like you’re there. 18yo Victoria is the quintessential underdog in every sense but her talent and her heart always help her rise above the danger and evil around her.

Get ready to go on an adventure with an expedition searching for gold. Victoria is one of the reluctant guides, and when her warnings are ignored, mayhem ensues. The heroine is strong, beautiful, and haunted by her own demons. She wants to save everyone around her which is an impossible task, but she still tries which makes her a very likable character. There’s danger, death, and betrayal. I found this book both beautiful and heartbreaking, and this unique world is one I’ll never forget.

This is a stand-alone, but I didn’t want it to end. I hope we get to revisit it in the future.

The cover is gorgeous and fits the story perfectly.

Please note some of the themes in this story include racism, slave labor, sexual assault, abuse, and violence.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ebook copy prior to its release for an honest review.

I am really amazed at this author’s ability to completely keep my full attention. I loved the magic created in this story.

This was actually really on the darker side for YA, but I thought it all worked so well inside the magnitude of this story. I loved the uniqueness and the setting. Victoria was such a fierce protagonist who demonstrated strength and a ferocious love for those she cares about. Her ability to see the beauty in the magic she held was so powerful.

Victoria is a strong and incredibly capable protagonist, whom I really loved. All she wants is her freedom from the life she lives. She was forced into her life from the age of 6, and is now the strongest Wildbood. Her magic can protect people touring in the dangerous jungle in Jamaica. She knows her worth and she is determined to get what she deserves.

Her boss has different plans for her though and that sends her plans in a bit of a tailspin. Now she has to work with her dirty-dog ex, bringing a group of people looking for gold through the treacherous jungle.

I loved the relationship she has with the jungle and the understanding of its beauty and its danger. It felt like the jungle was its own fully formed character in the book.

One thing I didn’t care for is the absolute INSTANT fixation she forms for an American man she is guiding through the jungle. I didn’t like that we as readers were just supposed to feel the feelings she has for this man just on her say so, without really seeing WHY or what it is about him that she finds so alluring.

Amazingly unique premise and the story carried me along very quickly! The descriptions of the jungle came alive. That being said, I wanted more plot development and build for the MC’s connection.

This novel was beautiful in a way I had not expected. Rife with themes of colorism, colonization, slavery, child theft, and more, the novel manages to take all of these and weave in the story of a girl finding her independence. The story itself is unique, the magic is original, and our two protagonists (Victoria and Thorn) are beautiful in their own ways, different from what we traditionally see as fantasy protagonists. Both have a gentle way about their leadership styles and heroism. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

3.5 stars.

Lauren Blackwood created a captivating premise set in an original world. Victoria is a "wildblood" who leads tours into the dangerous Jamaican jungle, using her "science" to keep tourists safe. Wildblood follows Victoria on a dangerous tour, led by her rival, to lead a group of gold miners into the heart of the Jungle.

Blackwood excels when creating the dangers of the jungle. The horror elements as the characters travel are captivating, at once atmospheric and tense.

The magic system and early interpersonal relationships are the most remarkable elements of the novel, but they are not developed enough to achieve their full impact. The prose can be a bit clunky or awkward at times, particularly later in the novel when the romance develops (or rather, bursts forth fully formed).

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is an innovative YA fantasy that veers into NA territory. The story revolves around 18 year-old Victoria, a member of the "race" known as Wildbloods. Wildbloods have magical powers, but in their society, they are under the control of entities like the Exotic Lands Touring Company. When the opportunity arises for a promotion, Victoria will do whatever she can to secure it. But will her volatile and mysterious powers be enough to protect her from the terrors of the jungle?

Here is a dramatic excerpt from Chapter 1:

"“You are loved,” I whisper, even though I can’t quite reach his ear like I could a year ago. “Come back, my little Bunny.”
Maybe he can’t hear me—enough rain to drown the island pours from the sky, splashing through our glassless window as it slides off the tin roof, and he screams loud enough to wake the whole jungle, even with it a mile off.
His wild blood flashes near my face—a small, bright yellow crackle like lightning—but his blood science has never burned very hot, so I ignore it. I focus on keeping him pinned, even with his kicking and cries."

Overall, Wildblood is a wonderful fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and HBO's Westworld. One highlight of this book is the lovely jungle in Jamaica setting, which was equal parts entrancing and terrifying. I thought this was a very original setting for a YA book, and I even wonder if this was written to be more NA fantasy than YA fantasy. Another highlight of this book was the Black main character, The book comments on racial divides in the world today and in the past through the fictional society that Victoria lives in. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!

This was a hard one to rate. It's closer to 3 than a 4 but since we have no half stars... Anyhow thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The book has some very good ideas and some that needed developed more. For one, it was hard to tell the time period (at the end I figure it's late 1800s early 1900s maybe) but that's more incidental. The 'magic' is what bugged me. It felt only half developed. The titular wild bloods have 'science.' They can manipulate blood into weapons. How? We don't know. We do know that it is the reason they are scorned by society, at least here on Jamaica. It can also cause them to rage out of control, again an idea that feels half done. I wanted more on this.

Victoria, our point of view character, has been working for the touring company since she was six, as a 'rare beauty' tour guide. Trigger warning there is a huge amount of colorism in this and racism. So Victoria is light skinned (there is a scene where she's remembering having to scrape her skin raw because she got tanned darker for instance). The boss (one of the few white characters) is a nasty piece of work, not above kidnapping wild bloods and having them shot if they try to leave his business. He pays them a meager amount so it's 'not slavery' but it very obviously is. Dean, another wild blood and Victoria's ex, is being groomed to take over for the boss and has betrayed Victoria in the worst way.

Dean and Victoria are thrown together along with her wildblood friends Sampson and Bunny (who is in danger of raging and being put down) to escort a large group of miners into the jungle to get the legendary gold. Thorn, the leader of the group, is handsome and puts out a kind, understand vibe that Victoria responds to. She, however, doesn't want to be on this tour. The jungle, you see, is sentient. River Mumma is a literal female spirit/goddess who will kill intruders. THe jungle allowed the road to be put in but that's not where Thorn wants to go. Mumma has ties to Victoria and maybe that might let them live. Victoria doubts it.

The idea of a sentient jungle filled with various spirits from duppies (a poltergeist like spirit from Jamaican lore) to the spirits of deceased kids to a giant bull is a fantastic one. That's what I liked best, this jungle. It is dangerous. Victoria doesn't want to be doing this and especially doesn't want to be replacing Dean as boss knowing the trouble that'll cause, especially because she and Thorn are falling in love and the other wildbloods know this. (not a spoiler this is all in the blurb which is vaguely disappointing)

So let's talk this romance. Honestly it is another thing that felt a little half done. It seemed too easy and a little flat. That said, I liked Thorn and Victoria (though the constant my beloved stuff at the end made my teeth ache). Speaking of teeth, I really wish the editor would have removed a few 'kissing their teeth' bits. I've usually heard it sucking their teeth i.e. that sound we make usually when we're being a bit dismissive. That phrase is in like every chapter.

It ended as I thought it might. That said I wished Thorn had had a bigger reaction to realizing his and his partners deep pockets were funding what is basically child slavery. Over all, in spite of my quibbles I did like the book. One final trigger warning (and it is in the foreword of my arc) there is an off screen rape from about a year before the story and Victoria has a lot of unprocessed trauma relating to it.

As a person who enjoys fantasy but doesn't read it as often as I should, I really enjoyed this book. First of all, the setting is FANTASTIC. It's set in the Jamaican jungle and it will absolutely captivate you. I also really loved the main character. I'm really trying to do this review justice without giving too much away because I think it's best if you go into it pretty blind like I did. I think the romance was a tad over-the-top and insta love is never my favorite but besides that I liked this book a lot. I would definitely recommend it to fantasy lovers.

3.5 rounded up to 4
Things I loved:
The cover
The jungle: it's sentient and is full of all manner of things that can kill you including poisonous insects, spirits, and monsters to name a few. Lauren Blackwood did an amazing job of bringing the Jungle to life. I also loved Victoria's relationship with the jungle and how she was able to navigate it when it attacks/kills everyone else.
The ending: it ended exactly how I was hoping it would.

Things that just didn't work for me
Well just one thing really, but it's a big one: the romance I hated John, and their relationship was too instalove for me, after just knowing her for a couple of days John is calling Victoria beloved and just everything he did annoyed me. Especially when Victoria is like "hey guys, the jungle has been warning us that it doesn't want us here, and if we keep going everyone is going to die" and John is all like its fine we want the go and even though he says he believes Victoria knows what she's doing when it comes to the woods, he completely disregards all of her warnings. He really wants that gold. This relationship/romance takes up a good portion of the story and I found myself bored until I could get back to reading about the jungle.

While this story didn't completely work for me, there were quite a few things that I really liked so I would definitely check out this author's future works.

While the concept was interesting, this book wasn't totally for me. I adored the setting but the romance just didn't hit the mark for me. It happened way too quickly to be believable. i think the author did this on purpose to showcase the main character's naivety, however it was just hard for me to read. I genuinely think this is an entirely subjective opinion and a lot of people will love this book!

This is a fantastic novel with original tropes and unexpected twists. The characters are well developed and interesting but what really propels this novel is the setting. As much a character on its own, it brings a new dimension to a story that could have been predictable and plain. The author deftly manages typical relationships and turns them ever so slightly in order to create something unexpected and satisfying. I absolutely loved it!

Wildblood is a young adult fantasy set in late 1800’s Jamaica. The main character is Victoria a “Wildblood” that is enslaved by a cruel boss and used for the magic abilities held in her body and abilities to manipulate blood. When a handsome young miner from the United States hires the company to escort his group to a region of the jungle famous for gold Victoria is asked to accompany him. She hopes that this opportunity will earn her a promotion but her childhood rival Dean is asked to head up the expedition instead. Along the way they’ll face jungle monsters and conniving humans and Victoria will be forced to face loss and events from her past.
Although I enjoyed the middle portion of the book while the team battled jungle monsters the beginning and end sagged a little for me. Somewhere around the three quarter mark a romantic relationship starts to take up a lot of the plot and it got a little annoying for me. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between the two and I felt the male half was love bombing her and being annoying. The ending was a little abrupt to me and it concluded in an unsatisfactory way. I’m not sure if I ever understood the magic their blood held and what they could do with it. As far as magical systems go, pulling blood out the bodies of other people is not my favorite.
Overall, this book has some exciting moments in the middle with truly unique monsters but it couldn’t make up for the last twenty-five percent with too much romance and an odd ending.

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood follows Victoria, who at a young age was kidnapped and forced to work for a touring company in Jamaica because of her powers. When told to participate in her most dangerous adventure, yet, Victoria knows that it will be up to the jungle who survives.

What I liked: This book was an adventure, and not just for the characters. The story had a nice flow that started a little slower, it then built into a fantastic ending. A book that takes place pretty much in one setting could be boring, but the way Blackwood wove the supernatural into her story made it so enjoyable. Talking about the writing, Blackwood is an excellent story teller. The way she develops her characters and slowly reveals information makes you want to keep reading.

To keep in mind: While I did enjoy this book as a whole, I feel like I am still left with questions (that I can’t ask due to spoilers). To me, there feels to be something missing whether it be character traits or more details. While I did enjoy the pace of this book, I did feel the beginning could have been just a touch faster to get to the action.

Rating: I read Blackwood’s debut novel and I can say her writing has improved in its clarity and general storytelling. This is a book for those who like supernatural adventures with only a touch of romance, and characters with a lot of trauma to overcome. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

“A wild soul should not be leashed by the ones who love her.”

The description of this book immediately grabbed me, and took me on an amazing metamorphic journey of our main character Victoria. I loved that this story touched on heavy topics like colonialism, human trafficking, and sexual abuse but did it in a way that showed the survivor’s journey and coming to terms that they have the power to move forward. The setting of a Jungle on a Caribbean island, Jamaica, that has a soul of its own was incredibly magical and atmospheric. The animals, and spirits, that come to life to protect their own were so fun to read about. There is a smidge of insta-love between Victoria and the client Thorn but it wasn’t something that I felt took away from the story. The writing was beautiful, with a few thought provoking quotes, and the ending just had me choking up. I will absolutely be going back to read the author’s debut novel, and can’t wait for more books to come by her.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
In this story, we meet an 18 year old girl named Victoria who is a Wildblood in the Exotic Lands Touring company. The Exotic Touring company is located in a Jamaican jungle and the Wildbloods take turns using their science to protect the travelers of the dangers of this magical, but highly dangerous jungle. The Boss denies Victoria of a promotion and is teamed up with her ex, Dean. Victoria will do anything to prove herself to the Boss.

First, I want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc and the opportunity to review this book.

You all can find this book in stores on February 7, 2023!

Now, when it comes to this review, I have to say, I am struggling with how I should rate and review this book.

I'll start with the good. The writing is definetly well done and does well to describe the jungle and the dangers of it. When it comes to the ending, I am content with it and am very supportive of the choice Victoria chose. Then, this cover is pretty.

Okay, now the negative. With the writing being descriptive and easy to go with the flow of the story, the writing definitely lacks in going into the societal issues of sexual assault, colonialism, racism, men having more power and authority compared to women, environmentalism, classism, abuse, and human trafficking. I wanted this book to go more in depth on these to give an emotional impact instead of skimming the surface.

There is a theme of found family in this book, but when it came to Victoria, Bunny, and Sam, there was not much development in this trope. Additionally, this book touches on the tropes of insta-love and a bit of a love triangle. Thirteen year old me would love these tropes, but twenty-seven year old me is not a fan.

This book uses the repetitiveness of having characters “kissing their teeth” and it drove me nuts to keep seeing it a lot through this 336 page book.

I found myself accumulating questions as I read of: why are Wildbloods hated, why is their magic called "science,” how is their science used, does their magic look similar to one another or are there different types of science, is this island the only place that has Wildbloods, why and how is Victoria the most powerful Wildblood, is there a specific race considered a Wildblood or can multiple races have this magic, how does one know someone in society is a Wildblood, and how did this company come to be?

I love the synopses of Lauren's books, but unfortunately her writing style just doesn't mesh with me. I found Within these Wicked Walls forgettable and un-engaging, but I wanted to try this one because I loved the concept so much. I had the same problem here - there's nothing wrong with the book, per se, I just never really got into it and left it feeling as though I had already forgotten it.

Victoria has a unique power: she can control blood. Because of this she was kidnapped from her home in the Jungle to work for a touring company. Her job is to keep the tourist safe as they explore through the jungle that is riddled with monsters and ghosts.

She was promised that on her 18th birthday she would receive a promotion, but her abusive boss denies her and gives it to her ex-best friend Dean instead. Her boss tells her she can receive her promotion on one condition. She must go along with Dean on a tour farther into the jungle than anyone (except for Victoria) has gone before, and she better make Dean look good, or else.

I very much enjoyed this book! I thought the concept was so cool and the characters had so many realistic layers. I loved Victoria and was so invested in her story and struggles.

I thought the relationships and backstories between the characters were so interesting! I also, really liked the flashbacks. They provided just enough information without taking over the story.

The world building was beautifully done as well! I really felt like I was in the haunted jungle. The creatures and ghosts were so interesting and unique! The descriptions really helped me conjure them up in my mind so easily!

I was a little worried going into this one since it is described as having horror elements and that is not a genre I really enjoy reading, but I would definitely place this one in the fantasy/sci-fi genre, just with lots of blood (obviously lol). So even if you’re not a horror person like me, I would still try this one out!

The only thing I will say that I didn’t really love about this one is I wasn’t super surprised by the twists. The whole story kind of stayed on the same track for most of it and I could predict a lot of what was going to happen. I won’t say that is necessarily a bad thing, but a few more surprises would’ve been nice.

Overall this book was wonderful! It has so many different elements, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, romance, etc. I would 100% recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

The idea behind this story was really creative to me. You essentially follow teenagers who are forced to use their magical abilities to help guide travelers through the jungle.

Overall though, I was a bit confused at times and feel like things needed more explaining instead of leaving it to the reader to assume. I do like that this book touches on a variety of important topics such as sexual assault, racism, violence, graphic death, and emotional and physical abuse, I would recommend this book but would hope any sequels after would be more flushed out.

Victoria is a Wildblood who was kidnapped as a young child to work for a company that does tours in the Jamaica jungle. Creepy things lurk in the jungle and Wildbloods use their magic to protect tourists. When Victoria is passed up for a promotion she deserves, it was given to her ex and arch nemesis, she becomes more determined to prove her worth. When Thorn hires the tour company to take him deep into the jungle to mine for gold Victoria must use her magic to keep everyone safe. As she gets to know Thorn sparks begin to fly and Victoria must decide what she really wants.

I really loved Blackwood's last novel and while I did enjoy this one too I also felt like I had more questions than answers. I feel like the concept of Wildblood was never fully explained and if it was I didn't fully understand it. I love the idea of mythical creatures and monsters in the jungle and when characters grow and learn. At the same time I kept waiting for something really exciting to happen and it never did. When the story ended I thought "that's it?" I couldn't figure out if Dean (Her ex and arch nemesis) was truly an enemy or friend because it kept going back and forth in the story. Overall it was just ok for me.