Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a YA standalone fantasy novel. Victoria is a Wildblood, a person with magic that lets her protect travelers in the Jamaican jungle for Exotic Lands Touring Company, the company that kidnapped her and has trained her to use her ability to protect tourists. When Victoria’s chance at promotion is ruined she takes the opportunity of a new client, Thorn, coming through to prove herself and get the position she deserves. Even if that means she has to work with he backstabbing ex Dean. Traveling through the incredibly dangerous jungle with Thorn, Victoria finds herself forging a bond with the kind, confident man.
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I did not really like this book, it kind of gave me emotional whiplash, and seemed a bit all over the place, the relationship was incredibly fast and did not work for me. My favorite part of the book was the incredibly terrifying jungle and the creatures within it though, that bit was fascinating. I’d heard good things about the author’s first book though so I’m not counting them out yet.

Thank you to Lauren, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for an advance copy of Wildblood.

Victoria has been employed by The Exotic Lands Touring Company for nearly her entire life, after having been taken from her family. There she is mostly unhappy, but has found a few friends to make things bearable, and of course there is the beautiful, luscious, and mysterious jungle to which she feels a close connection to. She is a wildblood, which means she is more or less a slave to the company that she works for, using her special abilities to successfully and safely give tourists a walk through the jungle.

After being passed over for a promotion in favor of her enemy of an ex, they set out on a new expedition with a team that wants to go deeper in the jungle than anyone has any right to go. Victoria sees this as the challenge needed to finally prove her worth and sets out determined to lead the tour with integrity and professionalism. One of the main clients, Thorn, is immediately drawn to Victoria, favoring her over her ex who is also leading the tour and ultimately asking her to lead. As they venture further in and the jungle starts to voice its disapproval and fight back against the intrusion, Victoria has to decide what is most important - getting ahead, winning her client over, or staying alive.

Lauren created a very interesting world for us, one that I feel safe to say I have not encountered before. She wove a story that was equal parts story and character driven. We had adventure, with a romantic relationship as well as friendship sub-plot so there is something for everyone.

While I wish we had explored the world more and it had been a bit more developed, I really did get a good sense of location. I could practically feel the humid jungle air as I was reading. I think what was lacking most was more backstory on Wildblood’s and what all being a Wildblood entails (which is odd, considering it is the title and basis of the book). I almost feel as though making this a standalone dulls its potential, exploring this world could easily be a duology or trilogy, or even come with a companion novel or two if Lauren felt that Victoria’s story was over.

Victoria was a great character. Her sense of self and logical thinking was so refreshing to see in YA. Her upbringing wasn’t great and she’s been on her own a lot which tends to mature people quicker and is so much more realistic than the typical YA characters that should be wise beyond their years but are actually very daft.

This just wasn't for me, I requested this for the promised romance and I got a whole lot of confused. Didn't like much of anything, have so many questions. Random that they were Christians that sang hymns. Yeah still no, so much to unpack and my brain can't

SPOILERS****


I really, really wanted to love this book. However, it was A LOT. The first half reeled me in. I was enjoying it. By the middle and until then end, it lost me.

Where to start?

Many people have echoed this sentiment, but the world building is severely lacking. There wasn’t a huge explanation about the magic system, either. It didn’t make sense who was a Wildblood and how that happened. The story has A LOT of potential.

The character-building is also…lacking. There’s an insta-love story and that’s because the MC has been so badly abused she clings to the first person to show her an inkling of interest and kindness. She finally chooses herself at the end, thank god, but it wasn’t a great transition; one day she needed others and the next day she chooses herself.

Also, I won’t lie, I hated the sex scene. I felt like it was completely unnecessary and inappropriate. She barely knows this guy, just lost two of the people closest to her, and she’s SOOOO vulnerable. If he had any respect for her at all, he would’ve rejected her. It gave me icky vibes all around. (Also, she wasn’t totally aware of her surroundings! Red flag! If she isn’t cognizant enough of her surroundings, can she really consent?)

There is more I could talk about, but those really stuck out to me. I was very disappointed, especially because I was so hooked at the beginning.

Just because I didn’t love this book, doesn’t mean you won’t. It reminds me of a mix of Beasts of Prey and Blood Scion, so if you have enjoyed those then you might like this. PLEASE look at all of the trigger warnings beforehand (rape, blood, violence, kidnapping, etc.) or else you will be thrown off guard.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for this eARC!

This was a very fast-paced and fascinating story! I really loved Lauren Blackwood’s world building and magic system here. The main characters are all Black and Caribbean POCs- including the wealthy gold miners from the US, which I loved.

While there were a few places that I felt there could have been a little more depth of character development or explanation, the ending redeemed a lot of that for me. Overall, a great fantasy read for young adults who are looking for more diversity in their reading!

A jungle tour guide, magic used to protect travelers, ghostly monsters – I was ready for an adventurous read.

Victoria is an easy character to like. She’s dealt with a lot of trauma in her life, more than anyone her age should have to face, but she’s strong. She’s very protective of Bunny, a fourteen-year-old fellow guide who she loves like a brother, as well as Sam, another close guide friend. As much as I liked Victoria, it was the jungle and everything within it that engaged me. It’s atmospheric, dangerous, haunted – really more like a character than a setting. It also protects Victoria and exacts revenge on interlopers who don’t show respect for their surroundings.

Wildbloods can use their own blood or that of someone else to craft their magic to create weapons or kill their enemies. It’s a fascinating concept, but I didn’t completely understand it or why Victoria is the most powerful Wildblood. I’d hoped for more of an adventure tale, but after Thorn is introduced this story focuses primarily on the romance/insta-love between him and Victoria. It overshadows everything else. But I did feel like the ending was the right choice for the characters.

I’m a fan of this author’s writing style, but her first book, Within These Wicked Walls, is still my favorite of the two. Blackwood remains on my author to watch list, and I’m excited to see what she does next.

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

Victoria has only known working for and living within the confines of the Exotic Lands Touring Company. Kidnapped when she was 6 years old by the boss, she works as a Wildblood protecting the company's clients on expeditions through their area of the Jamaican jungle. As a Wildblood, she has magical powers that help keep those with her safe. With her 18th birthday having passed, she expects the promotion that the boss had promised her but realizes she was passed over for the promotion for her backstabbing ex, Dean. Furious, she insists that she should be leading their upcoming expedition as she is the most knowledgeable of the area. She gets pushback in that she doesn't present the right image. On the trip, Victoria learns a lot about herself, about Dean and about the person who they ran the expedition for, Thorn. She learns more about love, family and what she wants than she imagined she ever would. It was a moving and emotional read.

The setting and magic system was very cool! I had a hard time rooting for any of the characters though, and wasn't a fan of the romance. I did, however, love the ending of the book!

3.5! This had such a cool backdrop and concept! I mean a sentient jungle with mysterious magic is sort of perfect I think. So I did adore that part! I also loved the concept of Wildbloods and the science of it and how much thought had clearly been put into that part. I think it’s such a unique concept too which I loved.

What I wasn’t as much of a fan of was the romance. The central romance was very insta-love which in general is just not my favorite sort of romance. Worse, I didn’t necessarily love her love interest that much anyway? I was very suspicious of him and I realized I shouldn’t have been because there wasn’t really much interesting about him. The romance was a huge part of the story so it was difficult to ignore. I also felt like I wish we could’ve gotten more background on the fantasy aspect of the story and gone deeper into that!

But overall, this was a nice read with a really cool concept!

2.5 stars

I couldn't finish this book, unfortunately. I made it 25% and quit because it wasn't what I was hoping. I may try it later on, but as of right now, it's not hitting the spot.

I was so excited by this book when I read the description. Blood magic, set in Jamaica? Yes, please! I loved the workings of the magic, but wish there was more in the story. I liked the relationship the main character had with her friend and brother. I was a bit annoyed at the love story and wanted more of the magic. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would read more about this world.

I picked this book up hoping for a fantasy adventure. However, it turned out to be more of romance with the fantasy in the background. I generally enjoy romances but this insta-love wasn’t very enjoyable for me especially since she loved her love interest for all the things she was annoyed by with her “brother”.

Pros: the writing was enjoyable + descriptive. It was dark and brutal but not unbearable. The setting was cool. I liked that it took place in most of the jungle and all the creatures that were created. I liked that the female MC chose her own happiness in the end.

Cons: I didn’t care for any of the characters. I found the female mc to be annoying. She was naive but confident, also the strongest Wildblood but also couldn’t stand up for herself. I also feel like the timeline wasn’t very clear. I think it would’ve helped if the chapter titles had denoted the days.

Neutrals: All of the connections seemed fluid. I almost felt like she could’ve had 3 different love interests. The pacing was okay.

Victoria is a Wildblood, kidnapped by the Exotic Lands Touring Company when she was 6 years old. Now, 18, she dreams of escaping. The only way to do this would be to earn a promotion over Dean, her ex-bestfriend and lover who betrayed her. When the opportunity to impress the boss' newest conquest, a goldminer named Thorn arises, Victoria must use her magic to secure her freedom.

I enjoyed this a lot more than others it would seem. I listened to it on audio, so I'm not sure if that was where my enjoyment came from, but I thought the narrator did a great job telling the story! I thought the pacing of the book was well done, and I was curious with where it was going to end up. I for one, loved the jungle setting. I thought the creatures that lived there were terrifying, and I loved learning about their protection methods. I loved the concept of the Wildbloods, the River Mumma, and the shadow creatures (BIGGS!) and wish there was more focus on that rather than the romance aspect. I also wish there was more explanation on what exactly a Wildblood is, and what their powers truly consist of. I think the conversations on eco-tourism, human trafficking and power dynamics could have been dived deeper into, but I see where the author was going. I really enjoyed Victoria's character. I thought she was extremely strong for what she had been through and never giving up hope. I'm a sucker for found family, and I loved how fiercely protective Victoria was of her two boys. I wasn't the biggest fan of the insta-love in this, and wish that more focus was put on the actual mission, rather than just their love affair. Honestly, I was more interested in her toxic relationship with Dean then I was Thorn.

Overall, I gave it a 4/5 based off of vibes and my enjoyment.

A throughly creepy read. The mysticism and magic of the book were really good. I was completely frustrated with the characters in this book; the entitled outsider, the strong woman who wouldn't stand and fight, the glamorous woman who was sneaky, more entitled outsiders, and all the wrong love interests. Frustrating. Decent story, frustrating characters, amazing world building and magic.

I have been highly anticipating this release since I read Lauren Blackwood's gorgeous debut, Within These Wicked Walls! Her debut was unexpected, absolutely incredible, and well-written. I was expecting something similar with Wildblood.

Wildblood is a fantasy that follows Victoria in the employ of the Exotic Lands Touring Company. When she is tasked to accompany her slimy ex-boyfriend, Dean, into the jungle with Thorne and his tour group, she is less than excited about the journey. Especially when the jungle itself begins to warn them against traveling farther. Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is a slow trek of a book. With its weak romance plot, repetitive scenes, and my wildly high expectations, Wildblood just wasn't the book for me.

This book, unfortunately, did not meet my expectations. Initially reading the synopsis, I was expecting a bit more adventure in the jungle with a defined magic system. The magic or the science of the Wildbloods left me with more questions than answers. I suppose I wanted more background to these powers and, instead, readers were thrown into the world without much explanation.

The setting of the book takes place primarily in the jungle. I don't think I've read too many books with the jungle as a backdrop--a fantastical jungle, at that. While I wished to know more about the Wildbloods and what they could do, I found that knowing little of the jungle heightened the reading experience as I didn't know what to expect next. The jungle was filled with unknown creatures that even the tour leader had never come across. The setting was as much a character as Victoria or Dean was.

While I didn't connect with Victoria as well as I could, especially when it came to the romance of the book, Wildblood still was able to rise a reaction from me. If you are looking for a fantasy romance set in the jungle, this is not that book. The lack of chemistry between the two characters coupled with the overused trope of insta-love makes the romance disappointing. Despite the romance, the various themes explored throughout the novel were important. The discussions ranged from gender roles in the workplace, racism, human trafficking, and colonialism. The poignant conversations of Wildblood were done really well.

The best way to consume this book, I must say, is via its audiobook. When I was reading, I switched back and forth between print and audio. There are certain moments of Victoria's journey where the tour group sing and the audiobook makes these moments come to life. The book truly immerses the reader into the story, and it feels like the reader is a part of the tour group too.

Overall, Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is filled with poignant conversations and a backdrop that is as much a character as Victoria. Unfortunately, my expectations were a bit too high going into this one. However, I fully intend to pick up more from Lauren Blackwood in the future.

Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me. I liked Blackwood’s first book, but I just didn’t connect with this one. I didn’t reply care what was going on even though the story was moving and unique.

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and Wednesday Books for review. Thank you! All thoughts are my own*

I read and really enjoyed this author’s previous novel, Within These Wicked Walls. I went into Wildblood thinking that perhaps it was a spinoff of that book and would be a fast-paced adventure full of treasure hunting, magic, and a girl fighting a corrupt company. The premise sounded really good, there were some interesting characters, etc. I felt that this book moved at a much slower pace, and there were many difficult topics that should have come with trigger warnings. There was human trafficking, physical and sexual assault, and violence among other things. I just was not expecting the amount that is in this novel, and it caught me off guard.

I am not a big fan of the insta-love trope, but I felt that it was very unbelievable in this story especially. It really ruined the story for me, and I felt like I would have liked it more without the romance. The main character “falls in love” with another character in the story after only a couple of days and they begin calling each other “my love” and other such nicknames and telling each other that they love one another. The start to this “relationship” was also based on their mutual attraction and not really anything of substance.

I felt very confused at times, as the magic system was never fully explained. I don’t think I could explain to you exactly what a Wildblood is. I was initially intrigued by the Wildbloods, but we never really fully understand them.

I think I loved the sentient jungle and all of its’s creatures the most, and I wish that had been explored more. There was so much potential there.

I would somewhat recommend this story. There were some good ideas, but I felt that they were just not executed well.

i really am so sad i didn’t end up liking this. it had so much potential but it fell so flat for me. i really don’t like being so negative but i truly don’t think there was anything about this book that i liked/enjoyed. i tried to read this using the e-arc but i got 10% and i couldn’t do it anymore, and i had to request the audiobook as soon as it was available at my library. i had many more questions than answers regarding the wildbloods. we never learn where their powers come from or what makes our mc victoria stronger than all the rest. the way it was also referred to as ‘science’ all the time got very repetitive. there was a faux brother/son relationship with a character who had no significance other than literally sleeping all the time. i truly had no idea what was going on with any of the characters. and don’t get me started on the romance. it was the epitome of insta-love. the two characters were saying i love you and calling each other beloved within knowing each other for 2 days. that alone took off one whole star from my rating. i will still be picking up this authors debut as i enjoy a gothic setting, but i sadly would not recommend this one.

Despite having the same name as the main character, I found it hard to really enjoy this book. I really enjoyed the previous book by this author so I had high hopes.

Victoria is a Wildblood. She is a tour guide in a Jamaican jungle with magic in her blood. She has to use her magic to guide visitors through this jungle...tourists who have no idea what is really in this jungle. She has few friends in the company but intends to get her promised promotion but is thwarted by the Boss and Dean, her ex. She manages to get them to agree to let her go on the next tour and if she makes Dean look good, she'll get her promotion. That's all fine and good but one of the tour, Thorn, turns out to be a big distraction for her. He's too pretty for his own good and all his flirting is working. As the journey progresses the jungle starts giving out warnings...only Victoria is willing to listen but gets overruled by Dean.

Overall...I'm not sure what to say. I think it could have been better for me if...maybe it was too fast-paced, maybe a little more explanation of the blood magic before it starts being used. I ended up listening to the audiobook and the narrator had a great Jamaican accent but there were a few times I said "what did she say?".

So I adored Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls, so as soon as I heard about this one I was excited to read it!

The story follows Victoria, who is a Wildbllood, someone who can essentially use their blood science like magic. They are both feared and shunned by others. And Victoria is the most powerful of her kind. At 6, she's kidnapped from her home and forced to work in as a tour guide in the jungle for this company. Now at 18, she wants to receive a promotion and devises a plan to take this gold miner on this dangerous mission in the jungle for her boss. Like her first book, this one sweeps you up into this world of fantasy and the lush forests of Jamaica. I loved Victoria as a character and the story was gripping.