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A review by stephbakerbooks
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
More inspired by Jane Eyre than a Jane Eyre retelling, this book grabbed me from the beginning and made it hard to put down!
Our main character, Andromeda, was an excellent lead. I loved her determination and drive, her survival skills, her optimism, and how she searched for love still even though she’d been denied it most of her life. That being said, I do think the romance was too much insta-love for me, but after I got over that and accepted that they were in love, it was a cute romance. I don’t think the romantic interest got enough development (his obliviousness to what was going on is never really addressed), but I did appreciate the complexity in Andromeda’s relationship with her father-figure, and the development that Jember was given.
The spookiness was just the right amount for me—I could read this book at night but it still made me want to keep the lights on. However, I think the world and magic needed a bit more explanation. I kept thinking certain things would get explained later but then they never were, and I was left thinking it was a plot hole.
Overall, a good story with a few great characters, but I would’ve appreciated some more world-building and less insta-love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my eARC!
Our main character, Andromeda, was an excellent lead. I loved her determination and drive, her survival skills, her optimism, and how she searched for love still even though she’d been denied it most of her life. That being said, I do think the romance was too much insta-love for me, but after I got over that and accepted that they were in love, it was a cute romance. I don’t think the romantic interest got enough development (his obliviousness to what was going on is never really addressed), but I did appreciate the complexity in Andromeda’s relationship with her father-figure, and the development that Jember was given.
The spookiness was just the right amount for me—I could read this book at night but it still made me want to keep the lights on. However, I think the world and magic needed a bit more explanation. I kept thinking certain things would get explained later but then they never were, and I was left thinking it was a plot hole.
Overall, a good story with a few great characters, but I would’ve appreciated some more world-building and less insta-love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my eARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail