A review by alyxbeau
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Let me start off by saying reading something from another new culture to me (this book is Ethiopian inspired) is wonderful. I love how often I am coming across new cultures in books and being able to learn little snippets of information. However, this book started off with a really exciting idea and then fell completely flat by the end. The premise of cleansing a house of monsters was set up very well-spooky, mysterious. As soon as Magnus, the love interest was introduced, the focus shifted entirely and we saw little to no attempts at cleansing the house that worked, it all happened off page. I did not find the back and forth with immediate caving in after saying she cant be with him any fun at all, it was not a dynamic I appreciated. I had a large problem with the overuse of her one gimmick - the idea of good and bad "survival habits." The first mention was quirky and I thought it was cute. But it was constantly being brought up as a reason for every action she made. It didn't need to be. I genuinely had some issues with how the main character acted most of the time, though possibly realistic based on her age and her upbringing. Speaking of which, do not get me started on Jember. What an abusive horrible man in so many ways. There was constant mention of the way he abused or hurt Andromeda, yet when Andromeda would mention it to Magnus and see how horrified he was she would yell at HIM. Telling him he had no right to be mad at Jember. WHO WOULDNT BE? YOU ARE MAD AT JEMBER. WHY CANT HE BE MAD TOO? WHY DO ONLY YOU HAVE THE RIGHT? Magnus cared about Andromeda, so he was mad at the man who treated her so poorly while he raised a child with no love. He can be mad. Jember was a walking contradiction as well. By the end of the book we see him playing a game that requires touch and we KNOW he cant stand to touch people, Andromeda mentions it every time she thinks about Jember. And its a game that requires A LOT of touch that he used to play with Andromeda too when she was little to pass time. And 
what the hell was up with it being revealed he straight up kidnapped her as a kid? What the actual F***
Anyway I started off really excited and wound up disliking this book quite a bit. I did not see how this was inspired by Jane Eyre, but that didnt bother me at all as I didn't go into the book knowing that was part of its goal. 
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