Review of Within These Wicked Walls

Love Jane Eyre? Or gothic romances? Or paranormal romances? Then you should definitely check this October YA release out! Here’s my review of Within These Wicked Walls

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

To be published by Wednesday Books on October 19, 2021. Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review.

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.

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Review of Within These Wicked Walls

A great pick for fans of paranormal romance, Gothic fiction and Jane Eyre!

Within These Wicked Walls features main character Andromeda, known as Andie. She is trained as a debtera, a sort of freelance exorcist who gets hired by people to expel the Evil Eye from their homes. Andie had been trained by and working under a older debtera, Jember, but she’s now out on her own and needs a job. She is hired by Mangus Rochester to get rid of a demon in his mansion, but this is no ordinary evil. Many others have tried and failed to expel it from the house, but Andie needs the money that he’s offering and is determined to try.

While Within These Wicked Walls was pitched as an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling, it is a very loose retelling. The story definitely had a Gothic paranormal feel (young woman arrives at a creepy mansion, hired by a surly but attractive guy). Though the story definitely didn’t have all the characters and plot elements of the original, I was amused that Jane Eyre is referenced right in the story.

I loved Andie, who is smart and determined and loyal. In order to expel the Evil Eye, she needs to carve intricate amulets, as taught to her by Jember. There’s a great side cast of characters, including a brother and sister who are friends of Mangus. The female characters – Andie, Saba, and Kelela.

I haven’t read a lot of paranormals lately, but really liked the paranormal vibe of this one. The story is gripping and exciting, with a lot of action! I would love to know more about the inspirations behind the book, from the desert setting (Ethiopia) to the incorporation of Coptic Christianity.

Definitely try Within These Wicked Walls if you love paranormals and Gothic fiction and are looking for something different and really good!

I don’t review a lot of paranormal fiction but check out my Best YA Books About Ghosts, my Best YA Books About Witches and YA Books About Zombies – Within These Wicked Walls does have a little zombie element!

Also, take my quiz about Gothic Fiction!