Within These Wicked Walls: A Novel

WTWW draws on Jane Eyre's themes, setting, and characters, but tells a haunted house story entirely its own. The horror images are visceral, and the threads of longing for romantic and familial love deeply colour the heroine's voice, but Blackwood keeps the overall tone surprisingly light. We shift swiftly from bloody chambers and severed limbs to blushing glances and quippy dialogue, while the banter-y romance remains centre stage throughout the novel. Because of this choice, I suspect the novel will resonate more with genre romance lovers than it will with those looking for a deeply atmospheric horror story, though elements will appeal to both readerships. Bronte fans will notice parallels in the scenes between the two leads, and in the heroine's struggle to believe she's worth love, a struggle she can't avoid, despite her inner fire. Blackwood also takes the parental figure from the source material (the heartless Aunt Reed) and fleshes out the adoptive parent role in some truly unique ways that support the novel's themes on found family and forgiveness. It's a layered story, an unexpected blend of genres, and a tribute to the source material unlike anything I've ever read.

It’s been quite a while since I read Jane Eyre, and I honestly don’t remember much about it. It was the mention of Andromeda being an exorcist that hooked my horror-loving heart and made me request this book. I’m thrilled this story is set in Ethiopia and incorporates some of the traditional food and dress. It’s nice to find a YA book not set in the US or UK. Gothic overtones are apparent the minute Andi crosses the theshold of Magnus’s home, and she’s informed of the house rules almost immediately. The most important is to be in your locked bedroom by 10pm (that’s when the Waking begins) if you want to live to see the next day. Over the past three years, nearly a dozen debteras have tried and failed to cleanse the household, and it seems like Andi is the last hope. Homeless before this position, she’s determined to succeed and also gain Magnus’s patronage when the job is completed. Andi is a no nonsense kind of gal who’s learned to survive the hardships of life. Sold by her parents at the age of five, she was taken in by a well-known debtera who probably had no business raising a child. But he taught her some valuable lessons. I didn’t know what to think of Magnus at first. He comes across as gruff, spoiled, and a tad clueless, but once the secrets of the house are revealed, his moods make sense. He’s also a scene stealer with some lines that are laugh out loud funny. It’s not hard to predict a romance between these two is on the horizon, but Andi’s mood swings from one sentence to the next during their conversations nearly gave me whiplash. Since I’m not much of a romance reader, that could just be me. The magic system isn’t something I’ve come across before. Debtera create amulets from silver and other materials, each being unique to the manifestation. Amulets can both protect the exorcist and also drive away the Evil Eye and everything connected to it. The ghost in the library who throws books at intruders is my favorite – she probably just wanted to read undisturbed. I get it. With no major twists or surprises, the ending is predictable, but that didn’t hinder me from enjoying this story. It’s an impressive debut novel, and I’ll absolutely keep tabs on this author and look for her future releases. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This romantic and spooky fantasy was such a great read. I flew through it. I really liked Andi and Magnus as characters, but I LOVED Jember.

It was good, but more like a romance, than horror. If that is what it was supposed to be. I the characters. The story was a little predictable. But overall, a good book.

I love this book! Read it in a single day! What a debut. Not to mention it is the Reese’s Book Club pick of the month!!! And my Halloween decor this year is inspired by the cursed rooms from this book!