This book is arguably even more intense than Blackwood's excellent debut, so do know that going in. The premise is truly fascinating and ingenious, and I appreciated the worldbuilding with the 'like our world but with certain types of magic' historical setting. Overall, this is a great book, though (like others) I wasn't a huge fan of the romance plot that takes more of the forefront later on.

Excellent and exciting read. Lauren has the perfect recipe for creating a book in an alternate world. Engaging characters, a little spice/ romance, and some type of trouble brewing. This novel kept my attention and I could not wait to find out how things turned out. I love how she weaves in culture.

Great read!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC!!

Whew, this one was a difficult one for me to get into and I'm not quite sure what it was, but I'm heavily leaning toward the prose. It feels a bit repetitive at times and a bit listless at times, which is rough because the blurb heavily interested me.

The characters were interesting and well-defined, but I think it was the jungle that definitely took center stage. It called to me and kept me wanting more. The characters did have really intense bonds that I enjoyed reading about and wished that I had a bit more time with them.

This book also seemed like it sagged a bit around the middle, meandering along until it finally got to the end, which lowered my opinion of it a bit. While not something that I would recommend to all of my book friends, it is something that I would recommend under specific circumstances.

I loved Lauren Blackwood’s debut novel and Jane Eyre retelling WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS so when I was offered a chance to read her second book, I was over the moon. Blackwood has always dealt with serious and dark subjects but WILDWOOD was an entirely different ball game that I wasn’t quite prepared for.

The book follows 18-year-old Victoria, a magic user known as a Wildblood, who was kidnapped at the age of 6 and forced into a brutal contract as a tour guide in the Jamaican jungle. Determined to free herself and her friends after traumatic incident, she takes on an expedition to bring a team of gold miners to the heart of the jungle and hopefully win a promotion. But with her abusive ex taking over as team leader, a too charming gold miner giving her butterflies, and the jungle fighting back, Victoria has her work cut out for her to confront past trauma and figure out her future.

As the author’s helpful content warnings indicate, WILDBLOOD is primarily a story about Victoria dealing with past and present abuse. I can see how some people might enjoy this story and find empowering, but I just found it bleak and disturbing. I kind of understood the exploration of how abused person could become an abuser as well as the downfalls of revenge, but the way it worked out left a lot to be desired.

I had issues with the plot developments and the romance just didn’t work for me. Victoria’s love interest is portrayed as almost too good to be true, but I still felt like he didn’t respect her and their development was too sudden for my taste. [ If a man is attracted to you but still doesn't take you seriously when you tell him something is very, very wrong, is that really love? I found it hard to believe they fell in love so quickly even with these kinds of barriers. The fact that Victoria essentially used sex as numbing while going through grief/a complete breakdown also made me very, very uncomfortable. Considering this book is aimed at teens and young adults I'm even more nervous that the audience won't be able to identify how problematic and questionable this is. (hide spoiler)]

The ending was satisfying in some ways and unsatisfying in others. I appreciate that the author crafted several twisted villains, but I simply didn’t want to read about them. I get that it was important for Victoria to choose forgiveness in the end, but many of Dean's actions especially on the journey seemed pretty unforgivable to me. Setting aside his original crime, he repeatedly physically abuses Victoria and his violence has a sexual connotation. For example, he kisses her against her will in front of the group, he hits her in the stomach and abdomen, and touches her without her consent many times. Considering he knows (aka witnessed and enabled) the assault she experienced before the book began and knows how wounded she is, his actions seem extremely calculated to cause the most trauma for Victoria. I think it would be one thing if Victoria forgave him at the end because he was abused too, but the way they started joking around made me very uncomfortable.

One of my last significant issue with the book involved a side character and the issue of consent that involves major spoilers. After Victoria's friend Samson dies, she takes him to the river spirit (River Mumma) to be revived. River Mumma implies he's a "present" and that she will make him her mate. He wakes with no memories, goes off with River Mumma, and is implied to become her husband. Literally just a few days later when they meet again, Samson says he loves River Mumma and, when Victoria questions that love, Samson says he still argues with River Mumma and she doesn't control him. Therefore apparently they have a happy marriage? Despite the fact that he has no memories, no way to leave the river, and River Mumma is an all-powerful being? And it's been all of like 3 days?? This made me SO uncomfortable especially since the author portrays it as an okay situation. For a book that deals so explicitly with sexual assault I don't understand why this dubious consent wasn't interrogated or simply removed.

The setting and magic was one of the more compelling aspects and I wish we had gotten to see more of them. I think this might be someone’s ideal book but was not my cup of tea.

Please be aware of the trigger/content warnings the author has provided but I would also underscore that although the rape/sexual assault technically occurs before the story begins, it is revisited in very vivid flashbacks.

This is not like any other fantasy I've ever read before. Most of the action takes place in a Jamaican jungle but this is not our Jamaica. This jungle is populated with invisible and lethal predators. Victoria is the main character, a teenaged girl who who leads tours into the jungle. Victoria is also lethal - she possesses a rare ability in her blood that allows her to be more than a match for the jungle predators. But not all predators are jungle animals.

Victoria has vulnerabilities in dealing with other people. She was kidnapped as a child for her abilities, and has grown up in an environment that has kept her subservient and where she was betrayed both by her boss and by the person she most trusted. There is literally no one other than herself that she can rely on.

As one of the tour company's best, she was chosen to lead a prospector looking for a gold mine into the jungle. Thorn turned out to be different from any regular human she had ever met. He didn't look down on her, and treated her with respect and care that she had never experienced before.

I enjoyed this book very much, and was left with a lot of curiosity about the rest of this world. The ending was as unexpected as the rest of the story. I hope the author writes more books in this world.

I received a review copy from the publisher St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood is an atmospheric, supernatural adventure that will lure you in, break your heart, and mend it back together again. This is more than a story of survival , but one of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment.

If you loved Within These Wicked Walls, Wildblood has many of the same signature gothic horror romance elements and influences that make Blackwood’s writing so compelling. The story may take place in the lush jungle, but it’s a setting that’s as haunting and terrifying as it is vibrant and beautiful.

If you love brooding heroines coming into their power, whirlwind romance, and writing reminiscent to classic authors like Daphne DuMarier or the Brontë sisters (but with a fresh, diverse spin and lots of lovely melanin) add this book to cart!


Things I loved:
- The main character Victoria’s journey from surviving to thriving: I loved seeing her come into her own, reclaiming her power and taking control of her life. So many people tried to control her and determine her identity and her life ( some who were even doing so with good intentions), but I loved how she fought for her freedom and independence on her terms. She went through so much (loss, abuse, and more) but her road to healing and recovery resonated. it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but it felt genuine and satisfying. It takes guts to break vicious cycles and Victoria’s character is someone to cheer for.

- The jungle: It had so many unique qualities and intricacies. I loved the compelling lore and the immersive world building. The sentience of nature and the dark supernatural undertones were the highlight of my reading experience. I especially enjoyed the scenes with the pickneys and river spirits

- The story’s resolution: The real love story was between Victoria and the jungle and it was perfect.That’s all I’m saying . I loved it.

Love meter: 🥰
Love at first sight
Sweet romance
Toxic / it’s complicated relationship
Bittersweet

WOW Factor : 🥹
A powerful, emotional rollercoaster.

Things to note:
- It started out a bit slow, but once it hit the 30% mark I was hooked.
- It’s marketed as YA but it reads for slightly older audiences in my opinion (pace and voice) but is still safe and appealing for teens

This story may include triggering content which includes but isn’t limited to:
Mention of and brief description of SA abuse, harassment, assault, mentions of lynching, verbal and physical abuse, blood, gore, enslavement, death, killing of animals, mention of miscarriage/child loss and child death, mild sexual content

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for a complimentary copy of this e-book. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

"Rage is all I have left."

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood was a mixture of intriguing and not what I expected. Victoria has a traumatic past that doesn't just begin with being taken from her family. Her unique wildblood magic is a coveted yet feared power that the Exotic Lands Touring Co. uses to their advantage. They are they only ones who can safely guide people through the deadly surrounding jungle.

Thorne: “But you do get paid?”
Victoria: “Yes. It’s not slavery.”
Thorne: “But it isn’t freedom, either.”
What does he want me to say? That the armed guards aren’t there to protect the tourists who pass through? That we’re paid barely a living wage simply as a loophole? That we’re only here because we were kidnapped?

That's just one layer of Victoria's backstory. She hides her features, body and familial history so others don't pay much attention to her beauty and actions. With the trauma of physical and sexual assault, we learn more of the horrors that have molded her persona. Her character is crafted well, the part that took away from her depth and the plot depth was the insta-lovestory. I also felt their wasn't a ton of history with the background of the wildbloods magic. It was one of the more captivating aspects I wanted to know more about.

The jungle set in a fantastical version of Jamaica was the highlight of the plot for me. The jungle world is depicted atmospherically as a sentient thing. From the trees to little bugs, there is a beautiful bond between Victoria and the jungle she respects. I could've enjoyed an entire novel based on this aspect and the wildblood history. For me, the love story diverted everything from what I personally thought was more riveting. I found it difficult to connect with the Thorne/Victoria dynamic.

I'm a big fan of Within These Wicked Walls and though this had a few elements that affected my overall thoughts, I'd still recommend this one to readers who enjoy a more new romance focused fantasy with important themes.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This was a lush and yet dark fantasy filled romance adventure.

This story follows Victoria who is a Wildblood(someone who can control blood). She was taken in, not willingly, at the Exotic Lands Touring Company to help protect those who want to tour the jungle. One day, a goldminer comes who wants to reach and mine the place known as the Gilded Orchard. Victoria thinks it is a terrible idea, but goes along if only to protect those she cares about. However, after the jungle gives three warnings via disasters, Victoria knows that none of them may get back alive, and now has to do everything she can to protect everyone and get back alive.

First off, I thought the idea, and concept of this book were very unique, and I really looked forward to this dark fantasy adventure into the jungle filled with terrifying and poisonous creatures and ghosts. I thought it would be similar to movies I've watched with people venturing into the Amazon and experiencing an adventure and horrors all at the same time. It definitely seemed that way at first, until the story progressed and it seemed to focus more and more on Victoria and her life and feelings and the romance, rather than the adventure and the jungle. I really did love the world and the concept of the story, I just did not quite enjoy the rest of it.

I will admit that I'm still unsure about the Wildbloods. I understand what they can do and that, as Victoria says, it's genetic what they have, these powers. However, I never understood why there are Wildbloods, or where they came from, or how one knows they are one. I mean, I never understood if Wildbloods are all over the world, or just appear randomly, I didn't understand that, I wish there was more detail on the story of Wildbloods and how they came to be, or if they're common everywhere. It's horrifying what they can do, but they are part of the unique concept of the story, and I love that, I just wish there was more detail about them.

I also did not like the romance. It was very much instalove and just not believable for me to the point that I just did not trust Thorn basically the entire book, it just seemed like there may be an ulterior motive. And it seemed like the romance took up a lot of the story! There was less adventure and less experiencing the jungle, and more romance and then sometimes horrors that would occur in the jungle. I wish there was more balance with the story, romance and adventure.

I did not connect with any of the characters. I appreciate that Victoria really grew and gained a lot of confidence as the story progressed, I just don't understand why she would like or trust someone who does not seem to listen to her when it truly matters(if you read the book, you would understand what I mean, I hope), and then definitely not trust someone she has known her entire life. It was very contradictory. I liked Thorn as a character, for the most part, but I just felt sus of him the whole time. Dean, I don't know how to explain how I feel about him. The things he did and does are horrid and yet, he seemed to me the most understandable character out of them all, and I'm not trying to justify his actions, but he just seemed to be more understandable with why he did what he did, and I always love a good redeeming arc for a character.

I did love the found family aspect in here with Victoria, Samson and Bunny. It was adorable, endearing and heartwarming, especially in such bleak circumstances they were all in.

Overall, I basically loved half the book, and the other half of the book not as much. I do recommend this book because I think many would love this story! Some parts just were not for me, and were lacking for me. And I will say the ending made sense to me!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Blackwood’s second novel follows the lives of “Wildbloods.” Wildbloods have the power to control their blood or others and create weapons from them. This gift leads to their enslavement. They are forced to risk their lives and usher tourists through the dangerous and beautiful jungle.

The jungle is teeming with deadly creatures. Victoria is the most powerful Wildblood at this company. One day she sets on an expedition to find a gold mine. During this journey she encounters: love, heartbreak, peril and deceit.

I really liked the concept of this book. The depictions of the creatures of the jungle were fascinating. The plot itself had some holes I couldn’t look past. At times I find myself asking myself when exactly did something happen that I didn’t catch. The romance between Victoria and Thorn didn’t seem entirely believable.

I did enjoy the ending. It was exactly what I thought would happen and it fit the protagonist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Victoria is part of the wildbloods who worked for mere pennies under the the abusive overlord. She joins the enemy side to guide the next tour into the jungle thanks to Thorn who soon becomes more than a friend. But Victoria is faced with the all to observant question of is this really what she wants?

Amazing! Victoria is such a wonderful character who develops nicely throughout the story along with the other characters. Blackwood did a phenomenal job setting the scene of the story and really using details to get you into it. Some things were a bit forced, including the relationship that is put upon Victoria but other than that it was beautifully written and well presented.

Wildblood was very intriguing to me from the description and in the beginning of the book. Somewhere along the the reading I felt that it became a little flat for me. I did enjoy the premise of them being in the jungle where there were strange and dangerous things lurking about; however, it felt more of a romance with the love interests in the story. For me, both the romantic and jungle journey of the book didn’t work well together. I believe I was looking for more of the fantasy vibe. It may have been an “it’s not you, it’s me” for this one.

I do feel that this will appeal to others. It just didn’t work well for me. So I would recommend to others to give it a try if they are drawn to the description. As I said, there were some bits that I did enjoy like some of the dangerous jungle scenes an atmosphere.

I read Lauren Blackwood’s debut, Within These Wicked Walls and loved it, so I was eager to read Wildblood.

This is a tricky book to review. Some of the ideas in this world are fascinating. The sentient forest is intriguing and there was a lot to discover there. It was used very effectively, advancing the plot, adding to the tension.

I also appreciated the magic system and how that connected to the forest.

And I liked Victoria and cared about her. I also liked some other characters and some fared okay, others didn’t. But even that worked for me, because it kept the book from feeling predictable or safe.

There were some weighty themes, and addressing rape and racism is tough. I don’t mind heavy themes. I do think there was a lot going on here, and at times, some of the issues slowed the story. At other times, some of the plot made it feel like we were skimming over the issues.

There’s always a sense of a large group of Wildbloods, but we don’t get to know many. And that keeps us from feeling the full impact of some events in the forest. It’s tricky balancing a large cast, and others may not mind that so many characters are kept in the background.

Sophomore novels are hard. I did like Wildblood and would give it 3.75 stars, which rounds up to 4. A lot of fantasy readers will enjoy this. A successful novel sells you on the author’s next work and I look forward to Blackwood’s next novel.

I picked it because I thought the cover was cool. When I read that it would have magic I was all set for the adventure but it didn’t play like I expected. I thought it would be all about the blood magic and show us everything it (the magic) was capable of doing. Instead we get a lot of talk about the blood magic and only a few glimpses but not much. Not enough to get excited over. I loved the blood magic and all the creatures and forces of the jungle. I wasn’t a big fan of the love story that came out of thin air and that ending. Also wasn’t a huge fan of Victoria but the lure of magic is what kept me reading. The story wasn’t what I was hoping for and leaned a little too heavy on a love that seemed flimsy at best.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

1893 June
Jamaica
Exotic Lands Touring Company

Step into Victoria’s dark and bloodthirsty jungle and go on a wild journey where death waits around every turn.

Victoria was stolen from her jungle birthplace as a child because of the power in her blood. After twelve years of abuse at the hands of her “boss”, she will lead a tour group into the jungle and off the beaten path in search of gold rumored to be deep in the heart of the jungle. The client, Thorn, refuses to listen to her warnings to turn back after numerous attacks from the denizens of the jungle.

Bloody, painful death will catch up with many members of this expedition and love will bloom between Victoria and Thorn, but who will survive this journey? Is there a happy ending waiting at the end of this story? I’m not going to tell you. Read it yourself to find out who survives the jungle and how things end for the boss of the Exotic Lands Touring Company.

Recommended for: older teens; fantasy readers

Content warning: blood; gore; physical abuse; sexual assault; death; child endangerment

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's definitely some trigger warnings needed for the beginning of the novel, and I'd say it might be a better book for older YA readers (16-17+), but it was a great storyline with great climaxes and great character development.

My first introduction to Blackwood was her debut novel Within These Wicked Walls and I absolutely loved it. I’m sometimes on the fence with YA fantasy and a big part of that is the fantasy worlds often seem so similar, but not here. Set in the 1800s Jamaican jungle, the setting is rich, lush, and absolutely alive – it is definitely its own character in the story. And this is highlighted by the intense relationship that Victoria, our main character, has with her surroundings. Victoria is a wildblood – she literally has magic in her veins. She was kidnapped as a young child and forced to work for the Exotic Lands Touring Company, protecting tourists from the magical, untamed wilderness. She is quite literally slave labor, suffering abuse at the hands of her “employer” for years, because using her magic shortens her life. When she turns 18, and is counting on a promotion, she is once again betrayed by her boss. She convinces him to let her take an important client, Thorn, into the jungle, along with Dean, her former best friend. But the jungle clearly does not want them there and does its best to show it.

Victoria is an incredible heroine, demonstrating a fundamental belief in the goodness of people, despite her history. Blackwood uses the literal trek through the jungle to discuss themes of loyalty and found family, belonging and discovering oneself, and abuse, grief, and loss. FYI that TW for violence and SA.

What a haunting and magical story! Lauren Blackwood has immersed the reader in an unique setting, the jungles of Jamaica. I was intrigued by the jungle tours and Victoria from the start! A jungle with all of it's unknowns offers a mysterious setting for magical beings and the exotic magic system of this story. The messages were abundant throughout this book and I find myself still reflecting on them. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Myth: 3.5/5

Victoria was a really interesting character, young but has already experienced a lot of brutalities that life has to offer. She has strength and she takes care of her own, but she has no one to take care of her. A lot of the descriptions of this book that I saw focused on romance, but the story itself isn’t romantic. It’s much more a wild and reckless trek through the jungle with a heavy dose of violence.

Magic: 3/5

Two big magical elements, the wildbloods themselves and the forest. I have to say that the sentient forest was really cool and kind of a character in and of itself. The wildbloods really only were given enough information to propel the story, which worked, it just left the reader to assume some information about wildbloods.

Overall: 3.5/5

Once I aligned my expectations from something like These Wicked Walls, to a magical adventure story, I definitely enjoyed it. It just took me a little bit to shift gears. Victoria was compelling though and the way that her story unfolded was captivating to read.

I knew going into this it wouldn’t be my favourite and I was sadly right. Once again, the cover drew me in. It wasn’t awful at all! The writing was great but for my brain, I got lost a lot. One minute the main character was in one place and the next she was somewhere completely different and I was so confused I would have to go back to re read the whole chapter to see if I missed something. So this wasn’t my favourite as I also don’t like fantasy, but I’m sure someone who is used to fantasy writing will love this!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Lauren Blackwood for the opportunity to read Wildblood in exchange for an honest review.

From the author of Within These Wicked Walls comes another thrilling stand-alone novel featuring jungle adventures, man's greed, romance, and ambition.

Born among the Jamaican jungle and kidnapped at six years of age, Victoria has been taken into forced, but paid, labor as a tour guide for the jungles of Jamaica. The jungle is home to many different ghosts and spirits, like the river spirit that tries to lure its victims in to drown, the children lost to miscarriage or in early age, and the Lady's: butterfly creatures that can kill with a toxic touch.

Being a light-skinned Black with exceptional features, Victoria is considered a Rare Beauty, one of the reasons her boss uses her as one of his leading tour guides. The fact that she is a Wildblood, a magic user who knows the jungle, is yet another reason, as she has the ability to keep their clients safe.

With the arrival of Thorn, a new client, Victoria is smitten by his features, strength, and courage. Where she cannot find a voice to stand up for herself, Thorn advocates for her. With admiration-turned-romance, Victoria works through her job with a potential new horizon at the end of this particular tour, a hopeful opportunity to escape her physically abusive boss and his protégé, her childhood friend Dean.

Wildblood was a fast, mystical read full of spirits, romance, and greed. The entire story pretty much takes place in the jungle, but there is always something new to discover. There were times where it was hard to picture the difference from one part of the jungle setting to the next and occasionally the sequence of events felt as if it skipped a blip here and there. While the ending isn't really what I wanted as a reader, it was the ending the book needed for these characters. Yet another excellent novel from Blackwood so different from her previous one. I am intrigued to see what she will do next!