kefeshe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
bittersweetcritiques's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
patricktreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Wild blood was broody, dark, aggressive and deep. However it was a struggle for me to get through. While it was a very good story, I am not saying it was bad, I think it was a lot more……descriptive in the situations than what I am normally comfortable with. This applies to the description of things such as an “SA”, an animal death, and some aggressive violence situations. I still think the story was good, but it was hard for me personally to get through.
The narrator did really well, but even on normal speed it was extremely fast. Just make sure to really pay attention if you are listening to the audio.
Special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me listen to the audio arc for this review.
The narrator did really well, but even on normal speed it was extremely fast. Just make sure to really pay attention if you are listening to the audio.
Special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me listen to the audio arc for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Genocide, Gore, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Slavery, and Sexual violence
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This YA adventure story contains powerful themes of choosing forgiveness, overcoming horrific obstacles & traumas, and claiming your own destiny. The author has thoughtfully included a list of content warnings at the beginning of the book, with additional information on her website. Victoria’s character arc is a delight to read, the jungle terrors are chillingly intriguing, and the writing style is simultaneously lush and accessible.
My only hesitation in the rating is that I wasn’t convinced by the chemistry with Thorn. My distrust/suspicions were raised the entire time, so I found him an unconvincing love interest, despite how handsomely he was described. For some readers, this might not matter.
My only hesitation in the rating is that I wasn’t convinced by the chemistry with Thorn. My distrust/suspicions were raised the entire time, so I found him an unconvincing love interest, despite how handsomely he was described. For some readers, this might not matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Sexual assault
Minor: Trafficking
antonique_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Death, Blood, and Sexual assault
nannahnannah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Firstly, I need to express my adoration for this book's cover. The design and the artwork are stunning. This has to be one of my all-time favorite covers. I also loved Lauren Blackwood's first book, Within These Wicked Walls, so I was extremely eager to get my hands on this one.
Representation:
- about half the characters are Jamaican
- the love interest is a Black American
- a secondary character is biracial, Jamaican and Chinese
At the age of six, Victoria was kidnapped from her home in the jungle of Jamaica by a tourist company who uses people like her, Wildbloods who can shape their blood into objects, to protect tourists as they travel through the jungle road to cross the island. Now eighteen years old, Victoria is the most powerful of all the Wildbloods in the company, and she is determined to earn a promotion to save enough money to buy her brother's freedom. But she has just been assigned to a new client who is hell-bent on traveling off the safe road and into the heart of the jungle itself, which abounds with dangerous monsters and spirits—and although she quickly falls for the new client, she knows entering the jungle is too risky. They might not make it back alive, and the longer she stays in the jungle, the more she questions who she is and what she really wants.
The plot at first sounds fairly straightforward and uninteresting: Victoria is helping rich foreign businessmen find gold in the jungle. It's uninteresting, though, because that's not the real plot. It's actually about a young woman held in conditions comparable to slavery who fights to get her and her loved ones free, and to figure out where she belongs.
I have to talk about what I liked first: besides that cover, the entire design of the book is exquisite. I am in love with the bug pattern on the inside pages, and I'm especially in love with the engraving of Victoria's hand holding her thurible. Whoever designed this book is fantastic.
Blackwood's descriptions of the sentient jungle are similarly gorgeous and lush, seeming just as detailed and filled with life as the design of the book itself. Although I think the author shines when it comes to dialogue and witty back-and-forth, in this novel, I think her descriptions of the jungle become the star.
What primarily hindered my enjoyment of this book had to be the romance between Victoria and Thorn. I think it's understandable why Victoria latched onto him like she did, but their dynamic from the middle section to the end became nothing but fluff and "beloveds", which got to be too much for me. And I understand that's a me problem, especially since the author straight-up says that she writes romance-heavy fantasy in her bio.
There was also some strange issues regarding consent, too, like when the admittedly awesome River Mumma brought a character back to life for the sole purpose of being her mate, but knowing what we know about the jungle, I think we're meant to understand this as these spirits not having the same morality as humans do. This Mumma certainly isn't a particularly benevolent spirit.
I'm also confused as to why the Wildbloods' magic isn't just called "magic" instead of "science", which always seemed a bit out of place and took me out of the story when I read it. It never seemed very scientific, even after it was explained (and I don't think I truly ever understood the magic/magic system entirely, if I'm being honest).
Despite this, it was still a fun and interesting ride through the jungle, with some extremely intriguing and well-written characters. There are heavy issues talked about here that make it fitting for the older side of YA, and unlike a lot of other young adult books it refreshingly walks through the gray instead of taking a black or white side of complicated issues, like how we feel about our exes and past abusers. It felt very real and genuine to me. Especially that ending, which made me feel so much better about the book in general. It was just the Right ending for this story. I look forward to Blackwood's next novel!
Representation:
- about half the characters are Jamaican
- the love interest is a Black American
- a secondary character is biracial, Jamaican and Chinese
At the age of six, Victoria was kidnapped from her home in the jungle of Jamaica by a tourist company who uses people like her, Wildbloods who can shape their blood into objects, to protect tourists as they travel through the jungle road to cross the island. Now eighteen years old, Victoria is the most powerful of all the Wildbloods in the company, and she is determined to earn a promotion to save enough money to buy her brother's freedom. But she has just been assigned to a new client who is hell-bent on traveling off the safe road and into the heart of the jungle itself, which abounds with dangerous monsters and spirits—and although she quickly falls for the new client, she knows entering the jungle is too risky. They might not make it back alive, and the longer she stays in the jungle, the more she questions who she is and what she really wants.
The plot at first sounds fairly straightforward and uninteresting: Victoria is helping rich foreign businessmen find gold in the jungle. It's uninteresting, though, because that's not the real plot. It's actually about a young woman held in conditions comparable to slavery who fights to get her and her loved ones free, and to figure out where she belongs.
I have to talk about what I liked first: besides that cover, the entire design of the book is exquisite. I am in love with the bug pattern on the inside pages, and I'm especially in love with the engraving of Victoria's hand holding her thurible. Whoever designed this book is fantastic.
Blackwood's descriptions of the sentient jungle are similarly gorgeous and lush, seeming just as detailed and filled with life as the design of the book itself. Although I think the author shines when it comes to dialogue and witty back-and-forth, in this novel, I think her descriptions of the jungle become the star.
What primarily hindered my enjoyment of this book had to be the romance between Victoria and Thorn. I think it's understandable why Victoria latched onto him like she did, but their dynamic from the middle section to the end became nothing but fluff and "beloveds", which got to be too much for me. And I understand that's a me problem, especially since the author straight-up says that she writes romance-heavy fantasy in her bio.
There was also some strange issues regarding consent, too, like when the admittedly awesome River Mumma brought a character back to life for the sole purpose of being her mate, but knowing what we know about the jungle, I think we're meant to understand this as these spirits not having the same morality as humans do. This Mumma certainly isn't a particularly benevolent spirit.
I'm also confused as to why the Wildbloods' magic isn't just called "magic" instead of "science", which always seemed a bit out of place and took me out of the story when I read it. It never seemed very scientific, even after it was explained (and I don't think I truly ever understood the magic/magic system entirely, if I'm being honest).
Despite this, it was still a fun and interesting ride through the jungle, with some extremely intriguing and well-written characters. There are heavy issues talked about here that make it fitting for the older side of YA, and unlike a lot of other young adult books it refreshingly walks through the gray instead of taking a black or white side of complicated issues, like how we feel about our exes and past abusers. It felt very real and genuine to me. Especially that ending, which made me feel so much better about the book in general. It was just the Right ending for this story. I look forward to Blackwood's next novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
also: lynching (mentioned); there are a couple of scenes where consent is iffyapierlessbridge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, and Gore
the_clever_reader's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I struggled with this one. I wanted more magic, monsters, and actual treasure hunting. Instead I got insta-love and not very likeable characters all around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Wildblood is a book that oozes atmosphere from the very ink on the pages. From the concept of being a Wildblood and the magic from their blood all the way to the dangerous and deadly powers of the forest. I was transfixed from the beginning. Victoria works as a tour guide for tourists - mostly white sightseers - to experience "the jungle". And while she is certainly paid, there's nothing fair about her working conditions, nor those around her and their forced imprisonment in the compound.
So immediately, we are all on Victoria's side. And you just wait. Wildblood is a story which works so well because it's centered on Victoria. On her struggle, her trauma, her story, her agency. The tension is palpable from the beginning. Always trying to just survive, she's on the brink of living, on a chance out, but to get it, she will have to compromise everything she ever thought and just might not make it out alive.
Wildblood is a book that oozes atmosphere from the very ink on the pages. From the concept of being a Wildblood and the magic from their blood all the way to the dangerous and deadly powers of the forest. I was transfixed from the beginning. Victoria works as a tour guide for tourists - mostly white sightseers - to experience "the jungle". And while she is certainly paid, there's nothing fair about her working conditions, nor those around her and their forced imprisonment in the compound.
So immediately, we are all on Victoria's side. And you just wait. Wildblood is a story which works so well because it's centered on Victoria. On her struggle, her trauma, her story, her agency. The tension is palpable from the beginning. Always trying to just survive, she's on the brink of living, on a chance out, but to get it, she will have to compromise everything she ever thought and just might not make it out alive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
chronicallybookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 15+
Over All: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.25/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Special thanks to Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
TW: (as stated in the front of the book) depictions of blood, gore, physical/sexual assault, sexual trauma, and death. For more information, please visit the author’s website.
I’m really glad this book has a TW in the front, because I think it might be the darkest YA book I’ve ever read. These are not just passing mentions of abuse, gore, and SA. They’re repeated, and often described to a graphic extent. The rape isn’t directly described, and it takes place a year prior to the start of the book, but we do get flashbacks of it that while they don’t describe the act itself, they do go into enough detail that it made me physically sick to read.
I think the premise far outshines the execution of this book. The writing is fine, but could be stronger, and I think that by making this book YA, the author was unable to delve as deep into the darker aspects of this book as she wanted to, leaving some of the darker scenes feeling as if they were lacking depth. It takes a lot of skill to navigate these topics in a space where you have to portray these aspects in a complete and powerful way, without getting too graphic, because the book needs to remain suitable for younger readers. I don’t think that Blackwood quite achieved that balance here.
I enjoyed Victoria as a character. I think she was a strong protagonist, well rounded, with believable goals and motivations. She was easy to root for. I cannot say the same for any of the other characters. They all felt very… shallow. I don’t think any of them had much individuality, much personality, and most of their motivations rang hollow. I think they just needed more.
The writing also felt… choppy? I’m not sure what word to use. The narration was very serious, matching the dark content and atmosphere of the novel. However every once in a while, there would be a pop culture reference/quote thrown in randomly. Now, I’m terrible at pop culture references and such, so I didn’t always know where the reference came from, but it was always obvious when it happened, because someone would say something that was both out of character for them and that did not fit the vibe of the narration or what was happening at the time. Like, imagine a severely dark and fucked up story, very seriously narrated, a very serious main character, who has just watched a bunch of people get brutally murdered, throwing out a “What, like it’s hard?” No. Just no. I love Legally Blonde, but it was so clunkily in there. Every reference was so clunky.
I did really enjoy the setting. I think that the jungle, the lore around it, and Victoria’s connection to it was fascinating and really well executed. This aspect of the book was phenomenal. When it came to the descriptions and Victoria’s interactions with the forest itself, the creatures, River Mumma, all of those aspects were great. This is what I wanted, when I was reading Beasts of Prey. If everything in this book had been executed to the level that the jungle was, this could have been a five star book.
Age Rating: 15+
Over All: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.25/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Special thanks to Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
TW: (as stated in the front of the book) depictions of blood, gore, physical/sexual assault, sexual trauma, and death. For more information, please visit the author’s website.
I’m really glad this book has a TW in the front, because I think it might be the darkest YA book I’ve ever read. These are not just passing mentions of abuse, gore, and SA. They’re repeated, and often described to a graphic extent. The rape isn’t directly described, and it takes place a year prior to the start of the book, but we do get flashbacks of it that while they don’t describe the act itself, they do go into enough detail that it made me physically sick to read.
I think the premise far outshines the execution of this book. The writing is fine, but could be stronger, and I think that by making this book YA, the author was unable to delve as deep into the darker aspects of this book as she wanted to, leaving some of the darker scenes feeling as if they were lacking depth. It takes a lot of skill to navigate these topics in a space where you have to portray these aspects in a complete and powerful way, without getting too graphic, because the book needs to remain suitable for younger readers. I don’t think that Blackwood quite achieved that balance here.
I enjoyed Victoria as a character. I think she was a strong protagonist, well rounded, with believable goals and motivations. She was easy to root for. I cannot say the same for any of the other characters. They all felt very… shallow. I don’t think any of them had much individuality, much personality, and most of their motivations rang hollow. I think they just needed more.
The writing also felt… choppy? I’m not sure what word to use. The narration was very serious, matching the dark content and atmosphere of the novel. However every once in a while, there would be a pop culture reference/quote thrown in randomly. Now, I’m terrible at pop culture references and such, so I didn’t always know where the reference came from, but it was always obvious when it happened, because someone would say something that was both out of character for them and that did not fit the vibe of the narration or what was happening at the time. Like, imagine a severely dark and fucked up story, very seriously narrated, a very serious main character, who has just watched a bunch of people get brutally murdered, throwing out a “What, like it’s hard?” No. Just no. I love Legally Blonde, but it was so clunkily in there. Every reference was so clunky.
I did really enjoy the setting. I think that the jungle, the lore around it, and Victoria’s connection to it was fascinating and really well executed. This aspect of the book was phenomenal. When it came to the descriptions and Victoria’s interactions with the forest itself, the creatures, River Mumma, all of those aspects were great. This is what I wanted, when I was reading Beasts of Prey. If everything in this book had been executed to the level that the jungle was, this could have been a five star book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content