The premise of this novel sounding like it was going to be amazing. Unfortunately, it just did not live up to expectations. I feel like the writing kept me from enjoying this book more than I did. There were several conflicts throughout that I just wasn't invested in, because of the lack of characterization. I felt like I was being told how to feel rather than actually feeling it. I did love all of the times in the jungle. That was the most captivating part. There was a 'science' that could have been developed further. Had the story been fleshed out more, I think it would have helped. I wish I had enjoyed this more, and I do think it may appeal to others.

Absolutely loved this one! I loved the world building, the characters, and the beautiful story! Highly recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

Victoria is a powerful Wildblood, a human who can manipulate blood to do what she wants. Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped her from being under control of a horrible kidnapper, who uses Wildblood kids to help run his tour company, which takes tourists into the spooky and magical jungle in a mystical Jamaica .

She wants to earn enough money to get her and her chosen family out of servitude, but her boss decides to promote her backstabbing ex Dean instead. Forced to work together to run a tour, she encounters Thorn, who is a self-assured as Victoria is frightened and who is a treasure hunter after the gold that can be found in the jungle.

The jungle is full of spooky creatures and the undead, and it's a living organism who isn't fond of humans trespassing in her territory. If they aren't careful, no one will make it out alive.

Wildblood, by Lauren Blackwood, is a haunting novel of a young woman forced to survive in dire circumstances and who is cowed by people who have control over her. I enjoyed reading it - it was fun, heartbreaking and extremely spooky. Throw in romance, found family, some action and creepy spirits, and you have a unique and fun novel.

I really wanted to love Wildbloods because I found the novel's premise interesting, but unfortunately for me it fell flat The story was predicable and I found the world building rushed and as a result very confusing. I would have preferred some more explanation about the powers and the overall world they live in to understand the motivations of the characters. It's an ok read but the story was just lacking something to draw me in.

I didn’t know a whole lot about this book other than it being set in a dangerous jungle and I am very happy I requested it. I love a good adventure story and this one is set in a magical realism 1800’s, when rich people paid a lot of money to often terribly exploitive companies, as the book portrays, to lead them on adventures to find treasure. But this adventure takes place in a sentient jungle that our heroine grew up in and loves despite its inherent danger.

Check the TW before reading bc it covers a lot of ground but is a beautiful story. I love adventure and the jungle is amazing. Wildblood gives off some serious Jungle Cruise/Pirates of the Caribbean type vibes and I’m here for it. But amidst the fun is a story about a young woman working through her trauma and finding her voice.

Thanks NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc!

3.5 rounded down
Story idea was okay but the writing was blah, very repetitive. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I really enjoyed this! After reading this and her previous book, Within These Wicked Walls, I can honestly say that Lauren Blackwood has a distinct writing style that I truly enjoy.

I loved the magic and feralness of this jungle, the way it truly was home for our protagonist Victoria. The concept of the Wildbloods was really interesting as well. I loved how we got tidbits of information about them throughout the story.

Victoria had her own voice, and it was really inspiring to see her go from this timid people pleaser, to someone strong and resilient and going after what SHE wanted for a change. She really grew through this story.

~ thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

If you loved Blackwood's debut, you'll love this one. Wildblood is a wonderful sophomore book that did not disappoint. A sentient jungle creates an atmospheric setting, and a strong and nuanced MC with beautiful prose make for a satisfying read!

I had the absolute pleasure of reading Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls and was overjoyed when I was approved for her upcoming fantasy novel, Wildblood. Put this one in your TBR!

Some overarching themes may be TW: references to sexual assault, overt tones of racism, and violence.

Victoria is a Wildblood. They are a special group of people who can turn blood into weapons or manipulate it and she is particularly good at what she does. Like her, the people who “work” for her company are mostly people of color, feared for their abilities. Also like her, most of the Wildbloods in The Company were kidnapped or taken from their parents. Their specific type of magic holds purpose in what they do, and that’s to help tourists or others through the jungles in Jamaica, which are populated by deadly insects, bloodthirsty beasts, and dangerous spirits that lure you to your death or even steal your face if you don’t know how to properly treat them and avoid them. It gives value to their abilities, but it’s also the only existence for Wildbloods. They are paid, but not enough to ever escape, and the only option would be going through the jungle if the guards don’t kill you first. Even then, the world outside can be so dangerous when your body was born with magic that not everyone understands.

Victoria’s main driving force is to get promoted so she can be paid enough to get her charge, Bunny, out of the company. He struggles with his magic and Victoria is afraid that he will stretch himself too far with it, which can be deadly for Wildbloods. However, the promised promotion is no where in site and instead she is given a deal. If she helps Dean, her former friend turned mortal enemy, on the next expedition and makes him look good, she will have her promotion. However, the next mission isn’t like all the others. The newest tourist group is headed by a man named Thorn, a very wealthy person of color whose fortune came from mining. Instead of the usual transport through the jungle on roads that are travelled often by clients of The Company, Thorn needs to get to the center of the jungle. However, the jungle doesn’t take politely to intruders and will not tolerate the intrusion this group brings.

This mission is unlike any other she has been on before, and three warnings are given over the course of the trip that make Victoria beg both Thorn and Dean to stop the journey, despite the punishment that she might get from it. However strong Victoria’s connection to the jungle and its creatures, it won’t be enough to stop the death, deception, and danger that they are all in. As things fall apart, Victoria must acknowledge who she truly is if she is going to get herself and the people she cares about back to safety.

This book was filled with so many twists and turns and mysteries that opened up like beautiful tropical flowers. It’s so hard to write a review without revealing too much, and there are so many things that happen throughout the pages that are surprising and heartbreaking and also beautiful. Discovering where Victoria came from and how she came to be in the company was my favorite part, but you don’t discover it until far into the book, but it explains so much.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review. This review will post to my blog two weeks before release

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for an eARC of this! This was delightfully spooky and so fascinating. I loved seeing a bit of Jamaica and the local lore. There are so many important discussions around white men power, being light skinned, walking away from abusive relationships, standing up for yourself, and finding love that you deserve. Lauren Blackwood 's writing has only gotten more and more beautiful, and I'm so excited to see what else she has in store for us.

CW: mentions of rape, physical abuse, death, violences

There was a lot of information crammed into the first few chapters but pacing overall was alright. I really enjoyed Within These Wicked Walls but this one fell somewhat flat for me. It just didn’t hold my interest in the same way. That being said, it’s a good book and should go over well with our readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Wildblood | Lauren Blackwood
Publication Date: 02/2023

Favorite Quote: “If peace were a melody, it would be this.”

Do I Recommend This Book: Yes

What I Enjoyed About It:
The Setting of the Story (Time Period)
Writing Style
The MC (Victoria)
Thorn
Victoria's Boys (Bunny and Sam)
The Mystical Jungle
The Spirits and entities that occupied the Jungle
Mumma (River Goddess)
The Redemption of some of the characters
The Gore
The realistic characters and how they evolved
African Mythology 🦋
The WILDBLOODS power
The descriptive imagery
Trigger Warning: SA , mutilation, gore, death

Thank You @netgalley and @ for the EARC in exchange for my honest review 📚

#POCReviewer #BIPOC #Netgalley #EArc #Kindle #Books #FallVibes #POCAuthor #Jungle #redemption #SASurvivor #Mumma #bornofthejungle #riverspirit #pickneys #bull #chosingyourself #gold #slavery #freedom

Blackwood's sophomore novel delivers on her lyrical storytelling. She's crafted a deadly world filled with magic. Themes of colonialism and trauma enmeshed in a fantasy world, includes some romance with solid pacing. A great read for YA readers but will appeal to a broader audience.

Content warning: rape

The concept of “Wildblood” was too original and interesting for me to refuse despite my misgivings after reading Blackwood’s debut. Unfortunately, I’ve realized her style is not for me.

The concept of indigenous people being enslaved into ecotourism via blood magic in a sentient jungle is intriguing, but it’s not explored throughout the novel. Wildbloods wield their sanguine powers carefully or carelessly without consequence, and no explanation is given for how it works or why it affects some people and not others.

The language is repetitive and uninspired. Other reviewers have mentioned the incessant “I kiss my teeth” phrase which appears at least thirteen times over the course of the book.

The narrative and characterization felt incredibly uneven—especially the way it ended. I never got a read on Victoria, Dean, or the other characters because they acted inconsistently.

I’m sad this didn’t work for me. If you were a fan of “Within These Wicked Walls,” you’ll probably love “Wildwood” too. And gosh, that cover is lovely!

I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are clearly my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to review this book. Wildblood is a unique story where we followed our main character Victoria who is an wildblood and powerful one at that. Victoria was kidnapped and forced to work at the age of six up to the age of 18. Wildbloods are not respected in her society. Her boss is cruel and denies her of a promotion, she decided to convince him by teaming up with her ex/best friend who is set to inheriting the company and who is less powerful then her. The book picks up when they go in the jungle which has dangerous creatures, also the jungle will do anything to keep you out. I did not like the insta love between Thorn and Victoria. I was expecting some big plot twist that did not happen. Overall. It was a okay book and will buy it when it comes out

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC! There was a lot to enjoy about this one - the premise was intriguing and the execution was startling and led to a lot of thrilling tense situations. Colorism and anti-colonialism were big themes in this one - the notion of a group of magically-prepped teenagers basically drafted to lead expedition groups in dangerous locations was a very interesting one, particularly through the lens of everything the various white empires got up to in the 1800s (Everest, comes to mind, as do the various natural wonders of South America and Africa).

What I knocked off a star or two for was insta-love. It haunts me! My least favorite trope. The romance in this one was just not developed at all, and both characters suffered for it.

If you don't mind insta-love as much as I do, the books ultimate themes and lush locations are worthwhile. Be sure to mind the trigger warnings for this one - there is a LOT of abuse and SA in it that I'd hate someone to be unprepared for.

At six years old, Victoria was kidnapped and forced to work for a company as a tour guide in the jungles of Jamaica. She is a Wildblood, someone who can use their blood science like magic. Wildbloods are both feared and shunned by others. Victoria wants nothing more than to protect the ones she loves and see them free from their virtual slavery. She is the most powerful among her kind and even those like her are afraid to get close. She is paired up with Dean, her ex that gravely betrayed her, to lead a large group into the heart of the jungle in search of gold. The tour company’s client, Thorn, is a renowned gold miner, and not at all what Victoria expects. But the wilds are more than they seem, teeming with monsters and creatures of legend. There’s a reason no one has ever made it back alive. The wild jungle protects itself and none of them may make it back from this perilous expedition.

The lush atmosphere of the story sweeps you up into its humid, unforgiving climate. The trees and rivers of the jungle have their own sentience and will for the security and safety of all the ones who reside within it. The mythical and fascinating creatures will capture your heart. It’s an imaginative creation of setting and world-building that embraces nature. It is a hauntingly beautiful story world.

Victoria’s isolated life has led her to be distrusting of people, but Thorn’s respectful, generous, and affectionate manner warms her to him. I love her respect, reverence, and connection with nature. I love that Thorn is not the usual fantasy protagonist (broody, alpha male) but rather most remarkable because of his kindness, honesty, and gentleness. It is a refreshing love interest within this genre and a nice departure from the norm.

The story is rife with the injustices and exploitations of colonization. It speaks to themes of preservation of wildlife and habitats, which I believe is an incredibly important topic in today’s society and not one I see often used in fantasy books. This book touches on darker moments as well, such as recovery from abuse and learning forgiveness and understanding. The trauma is emotional and journey to healing is inspiring.

This book encourages us to consider the ways that love can be a tumultuous, confusing, and often an irrational experience. It’s about loving people despite, or even especially, for the flaws that make them undeniably and uniquely them. It’s about having the courage to stand up for what is right and good, even when everything you believe in is difficult to uphold. It’s a story about finding your own path in life, even if that means making hard choices and sacrificing for it. And it all leads to a conclusion that is heart-breaking and yet wonderfully liberating and I can’t imagine it happening any other way.

I highly recommend this book! I truly enjoyed reading it and the author is one I will definitely be watching for their next book.

Lauren Blackwood's sophomore novel tops her first with a new lush, immersive and deadly world! If you're looking for something that feels like an anti-colonial Jungle Cruise with a dark and dangerous magical jungle where everything is out to kill you where a girl discovers self-empowerment, then this book is definitely for you. The setup and opening chapters are truly gorgeous, introducing a world and characters so real, they leap off the page. As Victoria's journey intensifies, she has to face so many obstacles. By the end, after rooting for her to own her own power every step of the way, the story reaches an epic conclusion that might surprise even seasoned readers. Deadly settings, rich magic, and a beautiful character journey are at the heart of this book.

2 stars.

I so desperately wanted to adore this book, but it ultimately fell flat for me. While the intrigue, magic, and danger of the jungle kept me reading, the characterisation and plot struck me as underdeveloped and generally lacking. All-in-all: great concept, weak execution, and a lackluster main romance that frustrated me to no end. The characters felt like pantomimes of human beings; not a single decision felt informed, rational, emotional, or /anything./ This was especially baffling because the plot was largely directionless and only one character (the antagonist) had any inkling if a clear motive, which only made itself clear in the last third. So the characters ended up just wandering through deadly jungle without aim or reason, falling in and out of love at a moment's notice.

The ending felt like it could have been a much bigger and more heartrending moment if the characters had only been better developed. As it stands, it was more like a relief, given the trajectory of the main romance.

First, I just want to say that the book had an interesting premise. Teens and young adults basically imprisoned by a rich white guy and forced to use their blood magic to help travelers navigate the jungle in Jamaica safely? Plus a trip off the beaten path deep into the untouched parts of the jungle helping some rather foolhardy Americans? Along with coming to terms with inner turmoil and trauma? All of this seemed very promising.

However, while I could sympathize with the main character and the book had important statements to make about racism, othering, trauma, colonialism, and respecting the world around us, as well as figuring out where one's true home lies, the story still felt a bit...flat. I didn't really feel much when reading it. It feels like something was missing, but it's hard to describe exactly what. I usually wholeheartedly enjoy fantasy, but this one left me feeling a bit disappointed.