4 really great stars.

The story grabbed me right from the start. It's a difficult line for fantasy writers to walk: disclosing enough without backstory-dumping; keeping things for later without confusing the reader. Blackwood did a great job with this!!

Victoria was wonderful and complicated and I loved her. Did she fall in love with Thorn too fast? Nah, it's totally understandable for an 18 yo who is starved for attention, attraction, and respect. And Thorn was pretty much the ideal. He wasn't particularly three-dimensional, but he was a good person for Victoria.

The character that is truly complex and messy and real on the page, is Dean. His relationship to Victoria was revealed really well with only one exception, and the resolution was satisfying as well. Good for Victoria.

Spoiler re Dean and Thorn:
[spoiler]
The fact that Dean was so much more real than Thorn led me to wonder if there was going to be the plot twist where Thorn's actually the bad guy and Dean was working for V's benefit all along. There wasn't: the author did something much more interesting.
[/spoiler]


All in all, a great adventure, satisfying ending, and cool characters. Recommended.

CW: s3xual assau1t in the past but briefly described on page; recalled several times.

I'm on this author's ARC list because I reviewed her earlier book, Within These Wicked Walls. My thoughts are my own. ARC via #Netgalley

I loved Lauren Blackwood’s debut YA novel and so I knew I was going to love one this one and it didn’t disappoint! Wild bloods are treated as less than human and are enslaved for the purpose of leading tourists into the jungle. However, the jungle has had enough of this disrespect and it always ready to fight back. Victoria has endured trauma after trauma but has not lost her humanity, despite people believing she is less than human because of her blood science skills and connection to the forest. She hopes that leading Thorn and his group will give her a different future, one she can barely imagine. This book is gorgeous and as with her first novel the idea of religion and redemption are important to the tale. The love letter to nature, and our mistreatment of it, should make all of us pause I. This generation of global climate changes. I loved this book as much as the first and I didn’t think that was possible!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a digital arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Victoria was kidnapped by a tourism-driven company and forced into training to protect tourists from ghosts in the jungle. After being denied a promotion, which is given to her ex who hasn’t worked as hard as she has, Victoria is determined to prove herself.

As far as the way this is written, I felt that at times the sentence structure was choppy and repetitive. The concepts described were unique, but the writing didn’t show enough to allow me to gain a full picture in my head of what exactly is going on with the magic mechanics. I also wasn’t very convinced with the insta-love aspect when I feel at some point Victoria should be desensitized to so much affection because every man she meets/has met is in love with her. The setting is the most amazing part of this narrative.

Worth the read, but I just wished for stronger characterization and clearer writing.

3.5/5 stars
Recommended for readers who like: fantasy, magic, adventure, magical woods, healing stories

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 8/31 and my book blog as of 9/1, and will be posted to Instagram on 9/8.

TW rape (mentioned, brief non-graphic flashback), abuse

I'm disappointed because I really wanted to like this book. I really liked the concept of blood magic and venturing through a sentient, magical, vengeful jungle. Unfortunately, while I do think Blackwood did a good job bringing the forest to life, I don't really think the rest of it hit the mark. There's also the issue with the instalove. The summary makes it sound like Victoria and Thorn grow to respect and care for one another when in reality they see one another and instantly start drooling. Some of the book is also predictable, but predictability can be more easily forgiven.

I will say that I really liked the depiction of the forest. Blackwood promised us a forest full of spirits and deadly magic and then delivered. I felt the magic and the danger from the get-go and really believed Victoria's warnings that even the forest road was a dangerous place to be, let alone the heart of the woods. I liked the different fantastical elements/creatures that were brought in. I enjoyed that we got 'traditional' dangerous creatures (i.e., insects) as well as the more 'mystical' ones (i.e., the burning bull, River Mumma, etc.). I was very happy that most of the book took place in the woods because it was such a fun, rich setting.

While the jungle provided a good backdrop for the story, I don't really feel like the plot was all the way there. We're presented with this challenge of getting to the heart of the forest in order to get gold...yet from the outset we already sort of know that's not going to happen. Victoria says it, the forest says it, and there are too many adversaries for that to be the true plot. And yet most of the book is spent with that as the 'goal'/plot. It's only toward the ending that the plot pivots and we get into the new idea that the system has to change, and even that is resolve fairly quickly. Victoria's transformation is a big thing, but in order for that to be the whole plot, there needed to be more introspection throughout the entire book, and there's not.

The wildblood magic was a little confusing to me. I understand that the magic is pulled from the blood, and you need some sort of blood source in order to make it work (though it also sounds like you can pull blood out of people or animals via their pores or mucosal areas, so...). However, I would've liked a bit more description or explanation in terms of how it manifests. At first it seems like it just involves forming weapons of blood since Dean and Victoria both make needles, daggers, etc. Then later on Victoria mentions she has lightning? I don't feel like I got enough of an explanation of the magic to understand how magic manipulating blood results in electrokinesis. Some additional information in this department would've cleared things right up, especially since it's an interesting concept you don't really see that much.

In terms of the characters, I think Victoria works as a protagonist. She's got an end goal of keeping her brother, Bunny, safe and getting him away from the tour company. She wants to move up the hierarchy in order to achieve that, but is otherwise content to stay on the sidelines, away from the brutality of the boss. Her transformation over the course of the book is largely subtle and has more to do with how she transforms inside herself than anything else. This change feels believable and has a couple of natural triggers.

Thorn is an interesting character for me since I think he's written a certain way on purpose. He's very sweet to Victoria, and very chatty. He's an easy character to like for most of the book, but there's definitely a moment when my perception of him sort of...slipped sideways. He's still likeable, but looking at it from a different angle there are times when you go, 'okay, I don't think you're as nice and accommodating as you make yourself out to be,' and I definitely think that was purposeful on Blackwood's part. I do like that about the character. It gives a depth and complexity to him that I think is very interesting.

Of course, with Victoria and Thorn there's a very instalove-y thing going on. I've mentioned before in reviews that I don't like instalove but can tolerate it so long as it feels believable (i.e., you get a build up of trust and respect first and without the love aspect). Unfortunately, we don't get that here. Thorn and Victoria run into each other very briefly inside the boss' office and immediately get heart eyes, and it's all 'I'm attracted but shouldn't be' from there. If there had been a slower buildup I think it would've worked better, but as it is I have this sense that Victoria feels very deeply for him (and vice versa), but there's such a short history there that it almost feels like a betrayal.

Dean is another major character, and is Victoria's vicious, cruel ex-boyfriend. This is definitely a case where a character is made out to be terrible and then actually is. He takes nearly every opportunity to make Victoria feel small, even when she's right and being helpful and, you know, trying to make sure they don't all die in the magical jungle. In the last 30% of the book it does feel like there's a major personality change for his character and, to be honest, I don't believe it (and neither, I think, does Victoria, not completely at least). I think there is definitely complexity there that could be explored, but it happens too fast and isn't explored enough. Additionally, I feel like Dean gives so many different excuses for his past sins that they all just feel like lies. I can't really tell if this is on purpose or if Blackwood genuinely struggled with why this character would do some of the things he did.

Bunny is Victoria's brother, a 14-year-old who is in a terrible situation and uses his magic to try and gain some control over his life, despite the detrimental effects it has on him. While he can be annoying and dismissive at times, I do feel like Bunny is written to be his age. He's very teenager-y, which fits. Despite him brushing off Victoria's concerns, he genuinely cares about her and her wellbeing. Samson is another brother-like figure for Victoria and has known her for basically her entire time with the tour company. I liked Samson's character and that he looked out for Victoria. He's definitely got his own flaws, but overall he's a pretty enjoyable, jovial character.

One of the issues with this book is that none of the characters that are close to Victoria actually look out for her fully. They may worry about certain things and warn her and try to protect her, but none of them manage to achieve the full outcome. Thorn does a good job worrying and protecting, but he doesn't heed her advice about the forest and he doesn't truly listen when she talks about taking the gold as a form of violence. Samson cares for her and protects her, but he doesn't apologize when he's wrong. Yet these people are, by and large, presented as viable, good options.

I did like the ending, and I'm glad that's the direction the author went with it instead of the one it seemed like it was going. I think it's true to Victoria and the message of the story. I was worried for a bit since it seemed like Blackwood was going to go a more traditional route, either HEA or something else ((view spoiler)), but the one she went with works perfectly. It does actually deal with some of the stuff I'd worried about as I was reading and the kinds of things I'd thought didn't fit well with Victoria, so I was pleased about that as well.

Overall, I went into this book wanting to like it more than I did. The premise is good and I think there are definitely aspects of it that are promising, but it just falls flat. For one, the plot isn't really where it needs to be, which is recoverable if the characters and magic are where they need to be, but they weren't. I did like the setting, though, and I think the ending really hits the mark.

I absolutely adored this book. Wildblood was original, gritty and full of excitement yet also touched base with difficult topics. I loved Victoria as a character and she felt so much like a real person so I loved following her on her journey. First of all I really loved the idea of Wildblood magic and would have loved more details on it! However, I also enjoyed that this story wasn't only steeped in human magic but it mostly focused on the magic of nature. I would have loved more details about the Jamaican jungle but the author did a good job making the reader try to picture themselves surrounded by the jungle and all it's elements... Even the mystical ones! I really loved that the author spun this fantasy story with harsh truths and lessons of the real world. The main characters weren't slaves, per se but their life style and the way they were treated by white men was a difficult topic to breach and I felt like the author did a really good job with handling that. I really loved the folklore involved, between the ghosts and River Mumma. I loved the exploration and greed for gold and all that went wrong along the way. I even really loved the non-traditional girl puts her dreams before a man ending! With that being said, Thorn was sweet but I could've lived without the romance. I absolutely loved this book and I think any fantasy lover is going to enjoy it too!

I loved Within These Wicked Walls, so I had high hopes for Wildblood. But this one just didn't draw me in the way Blackwood's last book did. I thought the magic system was so interesting, but I wanted more explanation and history behind the how the Wildbloods came to be and how exactly the science worked. I thought the commentary about colonialism was excellent, but I wasn't too connected to the characters. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I really disliked the ending, too.

A unique story full of magical realism, Wildblood explores the struggles of a group of people who are able to use their blood to manipulate their environment. They are regarded as lesser-than due to their magic and also the darkness of their skin. Wildbloods who have lighter skin hold higher positions within the Touring Company, and are seen as more desirable. Victoria is the most powerful Wildblood of them all and the story follows her struggles to overcome trauma and find her place in the world.

While the overall concept for the story is wholly unique and full of potential, I found the execution flat. The characters, including Victoria, were one dimensional, and the narrative left me with more questions than were answered. Mine revolve mainly around the origins of the Wildbloods, their bondage (?) to The Exotic Lands Touring Company, and Victoria’s power. Additionally, the instant love between Victoria and Thorn was unbelievable and unnecessary.

The characterization of the jungle was by far my favorite part of the story. I loved Victoria’s relationship with the River Mumma, and the creativity of spirits like the pickneys and duppy.

Although this story was missing key elements for me personally, I do think readers will be drawn in by the themes of survival, perseverance, and self-discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Blackwood's "Within These Wicked Walls", so I was excited to try this one. Now having finished it, I have to say, I don't know how I feel about it. There was so much that was good. The unique storyline, the magic that was very different from the usual, the beautiful, yet creepy jungle with it's creatures, ghosts and spirits. I thought that Victoria was a believable and likeable character, as was Bunny, and I liked Samson, as well.
But there were some things that bothered me too, like some of the clunky dialogue and repetitive phrases ("kissing their teeth" was used over and over) and the whole relationship between Victoria and Thorne, falling in love in just two days time. It just didn't come across as believable. And I'm the end I had a lot of questions I felt were never really answered.
Overall, I have to say I liked "Within These Wicked Walls" better, but will definitely look forward to the next book from this author.

Lauren Blackwood takes us on a trip to the tropics of Jamaica, to
the Exotic Lands Touring Company.

The name sounds like the perfect company to plan your next vacation touring guide, but this company is as corrupt as “Boi Blue” that some are known to be, true!

So let me begin to tell you the tale of ELTC for short,

Let us begin:

Victoria:

Victoria has been working for Exotic Land Touring Company as a Wildblood since she was kidnapped, when she was only 6 years old.

Her job is not one of the utmost respectable jobs on the outside.

However, inside the gates of the “touring” company, everyone knows that Victoria is the most powerful Wildblood there.

Here, the power of blood bending is what she and her fellow team of blood benders are known for.

Their special abilities are to protect the “rich” who can afford their services.

To take them safely through the Jamaican jungles, which are filled with ghost, monsters, and spirits.

No matter what they have heard about the frights of the jungle, the rich will still pay.

Because in the end, all they are after is GOLD.

Overlooked:

Victoria is extremely excited because the position for Team Leader has opened up.

Bunny and Samson just know that Victoria, is the only person powerful enough and ready for the position.

However, when the boss makes the announcement, it is not Victoria’s name he calls.

It is her conniving, backstabbing, ex-boyfriend Dean who is next to inherit the company.

Victoria is “VEXED” unbelievably, and she is determined to show and prove who she really is.

The Client:

Then one day the boss says he has a new client, (however sorry, to Victoria about passing her over.

She just was not the image that he wanted to portray for this rich client.) The world-renowned gold miner, Thorn
.
Thorn is determined to do, and go, anywhere, to reach a mythical gold supply that is said to be, buried deep within the dense layers of the jungle.

Victoria is totally taken aback by this man; she cannot believe how calm and kind he is to her.

For she is nothing like this kindhearted man from America.

Change of Plans:

He is scheduled to leave on his excursion with Dean as his guide in 48 hours
.
However, in that time Thorn and Victoria end up falling in love.

Thorn in turn entrusts Victoria with the mission instead, and she is about to prove her boss and that no-good Dean wrong.

Not to mention, she is not about to let her newfound love Thorn down.

Mission:

Together they will embark on a harrowing experience, through the mystifying jungles that await them ever so ominously.

Black wood Illuminates with her novelistic mosaic of enthralling magical creatures, astonishingly.

From her River Goddess to the hypnotic spirits that are calling out to Victoria from the jungle.

The word building was nicely done and flowed seamlessly

Blackwood’s character Victoria was outstanding and was the pinnacle of the novel.

You actually cared for her safety and her feelings.

However, the ending was absolutely STELLAR!!

This is where Blackwood truly shines like a diamond. Where you finally get to give that sly smile.

Hope it gives you that smirk too.

Good one Blackwood!

BIG UP GAL!

ENCORE!


Thank you, NetGalley/Lauren Blackwood/St.Martin's Press.Wednesday Books/ For this free eARC for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.

Wildblood is the story of Victoria, a powerful blood-bender who was taken as a child and forced to labor as a tour guide/guard through Jamaica's sentient monster jungle. She spends her time working as much as possible, looking out for her two best friends Samson and Bunny, and avoiding her boss and ex boyfriend, Dean. A client from America comes to them in his desire to mine the fabled gold that's rumored to lie deep in the jungle, despite Victoria's every warning against it. The client however, shows Victoria a kindness she is unused to and feelings develop between the two, despite the increasingly dangerous expedition. This YA verges on NA and is perfect for fans of Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray. CW: r*pe, physical and emotional abuse from an ex-partner, mentions of lynching, colorism, forced labor, resource extraction, fade-to-dark sex scene

What I loved: The setting! The magical jungle is gorgeous and full of creatures that are spooky and powerful but endearing and all connected to each other. I wanted more of the jungle and the magic therein. The character arc for Dean and his relationship with Victoria was written very well - I enjoyed the narrator's reflections on what makes someone a monster/unredeemable/unforgivable, and what makes a relationship repairable or not. I won't spoil too much but I thought the author wrote a believable interpersonal relationship and gave the writing of interpersonal violence and emotional abuse the delicacy it needed. I enjoyed the historical setting as well, although we didn't get too too much of it, it was a fun addition to the setting. The blood magic of the wildbloods was also very fun to read, although I do wish it had been explained more fully. Finally, I appreciated the commentary on colonialism and resource extraction, especially because it was woven very well into the fantastical setting, it didn't seem forced or out of place at all.

What I didn't love: Victoria's character felt a little flat to me, most of what I know about her is that she is THE BEST WILDBLOOD (okay I get it), that she struggles to speak up for herself against her abusers, and that she protects her friends (she protec but she do not attac). I just didn't feel much of a personality from her; I love that she is a daughter of the jungle, I think that fleshes out her character much more but it felt too little and was explained too late. I disliked the ratio of men to women in this book - Victoria has no women in her life but she has like 5 men and they are all in love with her and all want to marry her. The insta-love between Thorn and V was not convincing, why should I care about this relationship at all? They met 48 hours ago and have nothing in common. What's more, Thorn is giving HUGE John Smith (or John Rolfe, if you prefer) vibes and at first V calls him out and instead of considering her critique he's like <<but I'm good at finding gold>> and she's like <<well I tried>> lol ummm so romantic... There were also a few things in the writing that came off as awkward or confusing that I thought a stronger editor could've solved. Also, did sensitivity readers give that casual inclusion of a lynching the thumbs up????????? SOS send help that was SO WEIRD. and then he joked about it?????? Obviously I defer to Black readers/reviewers in this case, but I've never read a lynching included in a book for no purpose whatsoever. It felt awkward, like all the attention I was giving the story got sucked into that one very dark detail.

All in all, not a bad book, I think I'd give it like 3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and discovering this authors works. The story was full of adventure and twists and turns that I found very engaging. I absolutely loved this story and the journey the characters went through. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

This is a great book! Lauren Blackwood presents a world so whole and fascinating that it's easy and a delight just to sink in and go for the ride. Victoria and her co-workers are enslaved youth in an alternate Jamaica, where only their magic blood--wildblood--keeps them from becoming food or worse within the great jungle that surrounds their camp. Rented out as tour guides, the kids lead parties of wealthy people across the island on a single road, protecting them from the physical and immaterial threats of the jungle. Victoria longs to take her young charge Bunny away from their life, and when she gets a possible chance to do so, she forces trauma aside to do it. But more and more, the rivers and trees and vines call to her, making the trip an exceptionally dangerous one. The characters are so well created--they've got layers and depth and so many stories--and the plot, while fairly traditional in form, is embroidered upon in the most creative and dazzling ways. A fantastic book for teen-adult book groups, high school classrooms, and anyone who is looking for truly new speculative fiction.

I really enjoyed Within These Wicked Walls, so when I was offered an advance copy of Blackwood's new book I jumped at the chance. There are several similarities between the new book and the previous one, e.g. a poor Black girl who gets hired by a wealthy man to keep himself and his companions safe against supernatural forces. They quickly fall in love, even as people are dying left and right. Though there is a change of scenery, as well as Victoria having more friends and people she cared about.

The story is easy to fall into, though I thought the world building was lacking. I wanted to know more about the science the Wildbloods have. How does it work, what determines if a person manifests it, what else can it do? I didn't think we got to see much of the power and was disappointed. I also thought the villains were weak and with how strong Victoria is, how could they have kept her down like that?

The romance was my least favorite part. It's insta-love and had no real depth to it. I thought Thorn was just another man taking what didn't belong to him and not caring who got hurt while he did it. I would have preferred Victoria with Samson, Dean, or just take the romance out all together honestly. I will say that the ending made me happy and lessened some of my irritation.

For the things I enjoyed, the jungle with it's many predators, including spirits of lost children and invisible entities that cause chaos was awesome. I loved the river goddess, the deadly butterflies, and how Victoria was connected to all of it. I could read a full book just about this jungle, it's so vast and exciting.

Unfortunately this wasn't a hit for me, but I think it has a wide appeal and I hope others have a great reading experience.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy

I loved this book! A very unique concept with beautiful themes and a main character I deeply relates too.

I swear, if I have to read “kisses his teeth” one more time… lol.

It (or some variation of the phrase) is mentioned 23 times! Which, I guess in a 330 page book, is objectively not that much. But it's a phrase that really stands out, so it's easy to feel like it's being overused.

So it's not difficult to tell why this is getting such a mediocre rating from me - it's the writing. Repetitiveness aside, the prose/narrative is pretty weak and doesn't do a great job at supporting a unique concept. It creates more questions than answers when it comes to the wildbloods, how they developed their “science” or why Victoria is the strongest of them all. I didn't find her confinement to the tour company convincing, not to mention the boss and her ex are terrible two-dimensional "villains."

I will say the sentient jungle is pretty amazing. It and the creatures/beings that live inside it are very intriguing. But that's where it ends. Again, the interesting atmosphere could have been explored much more if the narrative hadn't been lacking. So I'm walking away feeling like I didn't truly experience any Jamaican folklore or magic, unfortunately.

Overall, there are some good, basic ideas. But the poor execution left me wondering what the entire point of the story was.

I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I liked some parts of it - the magic was kind of cool. I don't necessarily understand why Wildbloods are needed to work at the camp and help people along the jungle road, but ok, fine I guess? I guess I just don't think enough was explained for me. How do people have these powers? Why is Victoria so strong? None of this is particularly explained. There is a little bit of backstory about why she is special to the jungle, but for me that really just didn't make a lot of sense. The descriptions of the jungle and the special creatures inhabiting it were great. I enjoyed the world building a lot. It was the main characters I had such an issue with I think. I liked Victoria - I even liked Thorn. I found their romance to be ridiculous. And don't even get me started on Dean or the boss...or their backstory for that matter. I literally couldn't stand it and cringed any time it was mentioned. And it was mentioned. A lot. The ending seemed rushed and was mostly a letdown for me. I just mostly didn't care anymore. And the end there were really just more questions than answers and I was just unsatisfied.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Actual review closer to 3.5 stars. Even though I read this one sitting I felt it was lacking something for me. The world building was great but I feel like there wasn't much for the characters.

Content warnings: colorism, racism (real-world & fantasy), sexual assault (prior to story), violence, abuse & manipulation, mentions of lynching

Victoria is a Wildblood. She was kidnapped and forced to work at the age of six, and though she’s eighteen now, Wildbloods are not respected in her society, so she doesn’t have much of a choice to leave. But when her boss denies her a promotion, she figures out a way to convince him otherwise: she’ll go on a dangerous expedition with her ex-best friend who will be inheriting the company, and who is less powerful than her, and make him look good. This expedition is different than anyone expected, though, and ahead of Victoria is a journey full of death, dangerous jungle creatures, and even love.

I loved Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls, so as soon as I heard about this one I was excited to read it! The beautiful prose in WTWW was not missing from Wildblood. This book also touched on religion (specifically Christianity) and I really liked and related to some of the discussions on that.

I loved Victoria and I’m so glad we got this book about her! Wildblood is set in first person from Victoria’s viewpoint and this choice further drew me into the story and into Victoria’s mind. Victoria’s story was unique in many ways, but I think all readers (myself included) will be able to relate to her in at least one way.

I highly recommend to fantasy fans who want a book that’s still YA, but edges closer to NA.

The cover and the synopsis are a great indication of the kind of story you're in for. This book was a whirlwind of an adventure with some of the intoxicating worldbuilding. It was so easy to go through and author also did an excellent job at including meaningful details about the setting that made the work immersive and lush. If you love young adult fantasy, this is absolutely a book you’ll want to preorder.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an amazing novel. Most definitely one of the best books I read in 2022.
I really loved all of the characters and their relationships.
I hard such a hard time putting it down because the story was so compelling and well written.
The world building was excellent and the characters were interesting and compelling
An engaging plot with well-developed characters and setting that had me so consumed I lost all track of time.
The characters are well developed, the world building is rich and wonderful, and the plot will keep you hanging in there until the last page.
A new bold fantasy, Wildblood will be one of the best books you've laid eyes on.

Wednesday Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!