Name: Within These Wicked Walls
Rating: 3.730769230769231 (52 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250787101

Lauren Blackwood

A Novel

Within These Wicked Walls

Courtney Passio

Megan BV

 He grinned slightly. “You’re a surprisingly slow learner, Andromeda.” 

“Quick learner,” I said, my mind too tired to keep an annoyed bite from peeking through. “Slow follower.”

There’s something about gothic novels and big old deserted houses and slightly mad characters that I just love. 

“I don’t know.” He slumped back into his chair, his fingers laced over his stomach. “I always feel that if I was free of the curse … well, people wouldn’t feel the need to stay with me. They’d leave. And I’d be…”

 “Alone,” I said, shivering. I closed my eyes for a moment, forcing the whispers of spiders from my mind. “I know exactly how you feel.”

“You truly are terrifying sometimes. Not in a horror sort of way, but … you make me feel things brutally. And think things deeply. And you make me sweat a lot. Nothing is easy with you. And, to be honest, after a lifetime of people kissing up to me … I actually quite like this change.”

“I don’t remember that. I do, however, remember saying you’re irreplaceable. I wish you’d remember that instead, too, my little storm cloud.”

“Magnus,” I groaned. I held his hands holding my cheeks, my vision blurring the slightest bit. “This isn’t as right as it feels. There’s a clear power imbalance.” 

“I agree,” he said, leaning closer. “But I shall do my best to submit to your dominance with the grace of a gentleman.”

Moonchild

Within These Wicked Walls

This book was very kindly sended to me by NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review, this book was packed with action and suspense, being this a retelling, inspired on Jane Eyre, and since i never read it, and I don't know anything about it, i can only say that this was captivating, and with a good measure of horror and romance, Andromeda is an young exorcist hired to fight a curse that haunts the castle of the heir Magnus, while fighting her demons she's determined to fight this curse and not leave Magnus behind. This was a perfect reading experience, fast pace and perfect for a Halloween season,I recommend it to any fantasy / paranormal lovers. I gave it 4 starts. #withinthesewickedwals #NetGalley #bookreview

Allie Zurcher

I liked a lot of things in this book but had issues with just as many things. 

Firstly, I don’t think it’s fair to anyone to simply categorize this as a Jane Eyre retelling. Jane Eyre is so unique and almost every reader has some sort of big opinions about it. 

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda, a 19 year old exorcist who has been hired to banish creepies and curses at a large mostly abandoned mansion. Throughout that time we see magic fueled by her religion help her with her craft and she develops a relationship with the houses’ owner, Magnus. 

Magnus is an eccentric yet endearing 21 year old mostly alone in the world and that has left him feeling very insecure. The banter between the two was my favorite part of the book. 

Some parts felt a little underdeveloped or rushed, but there was also a lot going on. Overall, for me it missed the mark of “gothic romance” mostly in the feeling. But as a YA fantasy romance I found it enjoyable. 

I liked a lot of things in this book but had issues with just as many things. 

Firstly, I don’t think it’s fair to anyone to simply categorize this as a Jane Eyre retelling. Jane Eyre is so unique and almost every reader has some sort of big opinions about it. 

Within These Wicked Walls follows Andromeda, a 19 year old exorcist who has been hired to banish creepies and curses at a large mostly abandoned mansion. Throughout that time we see magic fueled by her religion help her with her craft and she develops a relationship with the houses’ owner, Magnus. 

Magnus is an eccentric yet endearing 21 year old mostly alone in the world and that has left him feeling very insecure. The banter between the two was my favorite part of the book. 

Some parts felt a little underdeveloped or rushed, but there was also a lot going on. Overall, for me it missed the mark of “gothic romance” mostly in the feeling. But as a YA fantasy romance I found it enjoyable. 

Christine Bruce

Andromeda is an exorcist. Magnus Rochester needs an exorcism. His home in the desert is ice cold and no one can go out of their room after 10pm. The workers have disappeared one by one, assumably unable to handle the horrors they experience. She feels the evil in every nook and cranny, but she also feels the love from this rag tag group of desperate strangers. She's about to embark on the most dangerous effort of her entire life for the chance at a new beginning. If she survives the night.

I loved all the ways this author adjusted Jane Eyre to tell the story she wanted. It's such a perfect example of how retellings can be done right. It incorporated aspects of another culture, a fantasy world, all new to the material. I love this being set in northern Africa, and I loved the little details that made this story uniquely its own, and not just Jane in another time and place. The world building in this book was extensive and easy to understand. I loved the lush descriptions, and the atmosphere Blackwood accomplishes in the house. Often once the monster is revealed, the story becomes less creepy to me. But with this one, the mood stayed tense and creepy. 

However, its not a full 5 stars due to the almost instalove. I didn't feel like the relationship between Andromeda and Rochester had been really fleshed out and suddenly they were talking about being together forever. I know the original also has an unbelievable romance viewed from today's eyes. But there was no reason this version needed to have that too. Andromeda barely knows him, and the development of his character really only happens after they start kissing. Sure she knew him as an awkward guy in need of a friend, but he'd also been cruel to her with his friends at dinner. It just didn't make sense, but was the only down side to the whole book for me.

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

A fantastic debut, and an incredible fantasy retelling of one of my favorite stories. 

What really brought this to life were the characters, and I absolutely adored the life that Blackwood breathed into Magnus and Andromeda. Their relationship, the tension, and the banter continued to make me giddy in the same ways as the original Jane and Mr. Rochester. Yet they still felt unique and completely their own characters. Especially Magnus, who was less of a brooding jerk and more of a tortured yet sheltered/pampered boy who was alone in the world due to his father…so he didn’t really know how to be in the world. Not an excuse, but an explanation, and we get to watch Magnus grapple with a person who doesn’t put up with it, and he becomes a better person for it. 

To those saying it’s hardly Jane Eyre…did we even read the same story? 

First, I have to ask: do you expect all retellings to be carbon copies? And if so, why? I love the story, and I love how Blackwood reimagined it without breaking the spirit of the thing. Just because some elements have shifted does NOT mean it’s not a Jane Eyre story. 

Let’s review:

* Plain woman takes a job out of desperation
* Said job is one that others could scarcely withstand due to the insufferable master of the house. Not to mention the troublesome “ward,” in this instance the Evil Eye
* Woman at first cannot stand Mr. Rochester, but loves her job and cares about the outcome 
* Woman has also come from an abusive upbringing that has led her to believe she’s ultimately unimportant. Though she desires more for herself (including to be loved), and she won’t be caged, she also does not feel she deserves the love shown to her. 
* Her fears are confirmed when she learns that this man has been promised to another (in this case only bethrothed, rather than married) — Essentially, Kelela is like Blanche Ingram and the wife combined…
* So, she more or less runs away and agrees to go back to her old life, or a version of it. Something she believes she “deserves,” or is fitting of her station. But it’s what she’s been conditioned to accept. Also, both women from both stories learn a horrifying truth and run away, because it’s hard to cope with what they’ve seen. The curse in this case can also represent the wife in some ways. 
* Mr. Rochester insists that he is not truly bound to the other person. It’s questionable, but turns out to be true. In the case of the curse, Mr. Rochester is also a victim. (This parallels how we’re supposed to think of him in the source material, with his mentally ill wife, though victim seems wrong.)
* Finally, the woman fears for the desperate situation of Mr. Rochester, and returns to save him. 
* Also, there’s a house fire. 

In conclusion, just because there isn’t an “almost wedding” and a wife in the attic does not mean it’s not a good Jane Eyre retelling. But I’m also of the mind that retelling a SHOULD vary from the source material, otherwise what’s the point? 

Anyway, I thought this was amazing and captivating, and I loved the Ethiopian elements of the story. I would have loved to see even more details woven throughout. Looking forward to reading more of Blackwood’s books going forward!

Mary Rose Luksha

Not entirely sure why this was billed as a Jane Eyre retelling. There were little moments that evoked dialogue or inner monologue from the book, but the themes were…not at all the themes from the classic. Jane Eyre examines how to love someone without submission. No spoilers but like…that absolutely did not happen in this book. Or rather, it felt like that got glossed over and easily “resolved” so there could be an HEA.

Maegan Kennedy

Rating: 4⭐️

Thank you to Wednesday Books for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Content warnings: graphic gore, blood, abuse, death, paralysis, abandonment, slavery, trafficking, depression 

Within These Wicked Walls is an Ethiopian, gothic Jane Eyre retelling set in a terrifying house cursed with the evil eye, and Andromeda, a debtera, is hired to cleanse the evil within. 

I have never read Jane Eyre so I can’t rate it as a retelling since I have no knowledge of the classic. However I can talk about the fantasy elements in the story. 

I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting the castle provided. As soon as Andromeda stepped into the house, it creeped me out. The idea of the Evil Eye was intriguing and very gory. I was not expecting it to be so explicit with the description but it was. I don’t want to give too much away, but this story throws you right into the action. You are also told Andromeda’s story through out the book which was nice, instead of having an info dump at the beginning. 

The characters were intriguing. Marcus Rochester, who is 20 years old in this book, is a flirt to say the least. He has his days of depression but is always distracting Andromeda from her work. It’s hard not to fall for him instantly. Andi is a badass who grew up way too fast. Sold to Jember by her parents, she is abused and treated horrifically as a child. But it also trained her to survive on her own. I think Saba was my favourite character in the story. She’s so interesting and you can’t help but love her and Andi’s friendship. 

Overall this was a very alluring story that got better as it went on. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a gothic fantasy with a smidge of romance!

"An intricate magic system, a grimly humorous Black heroine, AND a heart-thumping romance? This book leaves nothing wanting." - Jordan Ifueko, New York Times bestselling author of Raybearer Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn’t thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron—a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rorschach reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules... and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. But she quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, the reason every debtera before her quit. But leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option because—heaven help her—she’s fallen for him. Stunningly romantic, Lauren Blackwood's heartstopping debut, Within These Wicked Walls, ushers in an exciting new fantasy voice. "Fierce, eerie and heartfelt... a romantic and spine-chilling reimagining of a classic. I loved every creepy, swoon-worthy moment of it." - Laura E. Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then went and bought my own copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Within These Wicked Walls

Author: Lauren Blackwood

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Ethiopian MC and characters, Disabled side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, retelling, Jane Eyre retelling, horror, gothic, paranormal

Publication Date: October 19, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling

Recommended Age: 16+ (hunger, religion, gore, violence, slight sexual content, alcohol consumption, romance, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional child abuse, slight physical child abuse, bullying mentioned, child sex trafficking mentioned briefly, death, parental death, generational trauma)

Explanation of CWs: Hunger and poverty is shown and discussed in the book. Religion is a huge part of the book and God is mentioned frequently. There is lots of gore and violence. There is some slight sexual content and romance. Alcohol consumption between older teens and adults is shown. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are shown. There are some brief mentions of emotional child abuse and some very slight physical child abuse. There is one incident of bullying mentioned that resulted in injury. There are a couple of mentions of child sex trafficking via a child at the age of 5 being sold to a brothel (she is rescued before anything happens don’t worry). There is lots of death in the book as well as parental death mentioned and shown. The book is also a huge allegory of generational trauma, showing that the trauma of one generation impacts the other and it’s up to the younger to come to terms with it in order to be free of the literal demons.

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 326

Synopsis: Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.

Review: I absolutely loved this book so much! It took me so long to read because I wanted to slowly devour it. The book is a Jane Eyre retelling with Ethiopian inspired fantasy and Ethiopian characters. The book also has ghosts, which makes it perfect for Halloween. The book also openly discusses menstrual cycles and it can be read as a huge allegory for generational trauma. It shows two types of generational trauma, one that Jember inflicts on Andromeda and one that Magnus’ father inflicts on him. One is from literal trauma and the other is from greed/perception of others and how it will impact themselves. I will say that I did cry while reading this book and that I was absolutely blown away with how well done this book was and it’s an amazing debut read that needs more attention. 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.

The only issue I had with the book is that some of the pacing was a bit wonky in the middle, it felt slowed down and a bit out of place, but other than that this will be a book that will stay with me.

Verdict: I highly recommend this one!


Sahi K

CW: bleeding walls, parental abuse, dismemberment, selling of children 

Probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up. 

I can’t say I remember reading the original Jane Eyre but I have read a couple of retellings/stories inspired by the classic, so when I saw one more retelling announcement set in Ethiopia, I was immediately intrigued and very glad when I got the advance copy. 

One thing I can say, this is perfect to read during this spooky season. The castle in the novel and it’s owner are haunted by the antagonist, an Evil Eye which manifests in different forms throughout the castle every night, endangering its inhabitants. The author describes this eerie castle perfectly, with its many eccentric and sometimes horrifying features, which makes the building itself feel like the main character. That’s what makes this a very intriguing gothic fantasy. The plotting is also pretty fast paced, with everything moving at breakneck speeds at times, because everyone’s lives are in danger. The prose is pretty easy to read and I found myself quite engaged in this mysterious story. 

Andromeda or Andi is a compassionate, brave, slightly distrustful but very loving young woman who has been through a lot of hardships since childhood, and is determined to finish this dangerous job and earn a patronage. Magnus on the other hand is the owner of the castle who has been plagued by the Evil Eye for three years and is very depressed about it. He is also a slightly pretentious and snobby rich brat sometimes, but his bad qualities get offset by his charm and wit. Their romance is definitely very instalovey but it was also understandable because they are two people who have experienced a lot of loneliness, and it’s easy to fall in love with the first person who shows some affection. 

There are quite a few side characters too but I didn’t find any of them too memorable except for Saba who was sweet and extremely loving and caring, despite her devastating circumstances. And ofcourse there’s Jember, the only father Andi has ever known. They have a complicated relationship and I understand why she was quick to forgive him when he apologized after 14 years of being abusive to her. But her justification that all his abuse was ok because he was doing it out of love and to help her survive, and all his abusive teachings helped her survive when she was literally homeless and starving (because of him) - was a bit too much for me to stomach and I almost felt like she was gaslighting herself. Magnus seemed like the only voice of reason who understood abuse for what it was. 

In the end, this was a very eerie, mysterious, atmospheric and sometimes horrific YA gothic fantasy novel, with very memorable main protagonists and their endearing love story. I may have some issues with some characterizations but overall it was an engaging book, and while it doesn’t have too much in common with the OG Jane Eyre except some names and the haunted castle, I still think fans of the classic will enjoy this one.

Laura Springall

Within These Wicked Walls is easily one of the best fantasies I’ve read recently. The fact that this is a debut is even more impressive, it was so well done!

Within These Wicked Walls is an Ethiopian-inspired horror retelling of Jane Eyre, which takes place in a mansion in the desert filled with the horrifying manifestations of the evil eye. Andromeda is a debtera, someone trained to create amulets to rid places like this one of their curses. But nothing could have prepared her for what she would find on her first solo job, especially when that job involves a man who is as irritating as he is adorable. It’s a race against the clock for Andromeda to finish cleansing the house, especially when more lives than she originally thought are in her hands. 

I can’t believe how impressed I am with this book. Within These Wicked Walls had me laughing out loud at some parts, on the edge of my seat at others, and even had me a crying mess at the end of it all. The author writes in such a way that the emotions on the page felt like my own, and it was a rollercoaster from start to finish. In terms of this being a retelling, I have not personally read Jane Eyre or seen any adaptations of it, so I can’t speak on how closely this follows the original story. But the romance in here was incredible! The chemistry between Andromeda and Magnus was palpable, it felt so real and believable. I was so desperately rooting for them. The rest of the characters were phenomenal as well, especially the parental figures. I love that the side characters felt just as important as the main characters, and that they got to have their own stories told as well. As an audiobook, I loved the choice of narrator! I think she did an excellent job with this book, and I found her voice to match the mood of the book perfectly. I also found this had just the right amount of horror to it as well. The atmosphere was delightfully eerie, and I loved all the creative ways the author described the manifestations, they were so creepy! It’s exactly what I wanted for this time of year, and I would definitely recommend it to others as a Halloween read!

Moon Child

Elodia

I had fun reading this. It had some great character interactions, funny moments, and emotional moments. It was atmospheric and creepy with phenomenal writing.

There were some inconsistencies with the passage of time, she’d say something happened two hours ago, yet say it was the day ago in the next paragraph (note that I did read an ARC so maybe that’s fixed in the actual finished copy). This took me out of the story the few times it happened.

I never felt entirely involved in the plot, there was a lot happening but it all felt surface level.

* I was sent a eARC to review. 

“Don’t ever cry over a boy again. Unless he transforms into a hyena and tears your leg off. Until that happens, you don’t get to cry.”

A spooky Ethiopian reimagining of Jane Eyre that will make you second guess what lives inside of your home.  Within These Wicked Walls definitely feels like one of those “seasonal” kinds of reads to me! If you’re looking for spooky season vibes full of exorcisms and hauntings, look no further, this story has all of the perfect vibes to get you into the spirit- literally. 

This is said to be a Jane Eyre reimagining and although I’ve never read it, I did do a quick google search and can somewhat see the inspiration here in case that is a selling point for you! 

Andromeda is essentially an exorcist (someone who cleanses homes and people of evil beings) and might have chosen the hardest case to accomplish on her own but one thing about Andi is she’s optimistic, and will stop at pretty much nothing— even if it kill’s her. But she just might have found a reason to put her all into it even if it puts her directly in harms way. 

Within These Wicked Walls is Blackwood’s debut full of creepy vibes, shocking desire and some tender moments that I didn’t expect. I can’t wait to see what else she will release into the world! 

Liz Griffin

Within These Wicked Walls is a standalone Ethiopian historical/gothic fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre, where the protagonist, Andromeda, is hired to exorcise a manor house of the Evil Eye. However, she soon discovers that both the house and its young master, Magnus Rochester, are not what they seem, and the house staff keep disappearing. Andi is an engaging protagonist with equal parts spunk and humility, a vast improvement on her classic literary archetype. The prose is engaging and perfectly balances deep character moments with necessary worldbuilding. While Magnus didn’t appeal to me personally as a viable love interest, other readers may find his interactions with Andi to be romantic.
•
Content warnings: abuse & abandonment, character death, blood

Nikki Sojkowski

**I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

Within These Wicked Walls is the thrilling and spooky debut from Lauren Blackwood. It was marketed to me as Victorian Gothic meets the hot desert sands of Ethiopia and the description was spot on! This book is the perfect October read. Andromeda, a debtera, is hired to excorsize the Evil Eye from a castle when she realizes she signed up for more than she could handle. Full of manifestations and scares, the plot also delves deep into various personal relationships: familial, platonic, and romantic.

I am not familiar with Jane Eyre, so I can't comment on whether this is a 'thematic' or 'true-to-source-materials' retelling, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. My biggest praises go to Blackwood's development of the fantasy elements, especially how Andromeda has to carve/weld/weave amulets to purify a space. Her ability to see the strokes she needs to make, while racing against time to do so added the perfect amount of tension to the book. Blackwood's descriptions were also very vivid, anchoring me into the scenes. It's a hard book to put down once you get started!

The one con that dropped a star was that I wish the main romantic relationship was more developed. Though with a standalone book that sacrifice isn't wholly unexpected, this relationship did feel a bit sudden and a bit rushed compared to Andromeda's struggle with her father figure and compared to Andromeda's newly formed friendships. Don't get me wrong, I loved the characters individually. Andromeda and Magnus are both well-developed as individuals, but their romantic bond felt oddly swift.

Meagan

I don’t have enough good things to say about this book. I had previously never been a huge Jane Eyre fan so I was unsure how I’d like a retelling but this story was so unique and beautiful! I loved learning about the debtera and watching the relationships within this book as there were many different types. We had the love of friendship, the conflicting relationship with Jember and first love with Magnus.

My favorite part of this whole book has to be Magnus. He was such a cinnamon roll and I’m going to say brat too, but in the most endearing way possible. His indignation at ridiculously small things was precious and his affection for Andi was so sweet. Also his hatred of wearing pants is so relatable. Saba was a close second with her enduring friendship and constant dealing with the brat owner of the house and panicky debtera. She was a no-nonsense character and I adored her. 

The creepy factors of this book was so very well done. It was just enough to get me creeped out while also not taking away from the bonds within the book.

P.S. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I feel like there was a Pride and Prejudice reference in here with Magnus joking to Andi about her trying to intimidate him while she watched him play the harpsichord. I really hope it was a reference because I got a lot of enjoyment out of that!

Fans of House of Salt and Sorrows, The Shadows Between Us, and The Devouring Gray will love this book!

Within These Wicked Walls A Novel

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