A Review of Within These Wicked Walls
Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn’t thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron—a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rorschach reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules... and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice.
Plot
My first note on the plot is that this book is advertised as a retelling of Jane Eyre, which frankly I did not see at all. It’d be better to say that this book is inspired by Jane Eyre. But other than that quibble with the marketing, I have no complaints about the plot. The book was extremely compelling and I had a hard time putting it down, especially near the end of the book. My heart was literally thumping in my ears as I tried to anticipate what would happen. I even teared up at some of the emotional scenes. It was an incredible story from start to finish.
Characters
The protagonist, Andromedia, was an excellent guide through this story. She’s relatable, snarky, and tough. She also has excellent chemistry with her love interest. Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is how complex every character is, from the smallest side character to Andromedia’s main supporting cast. There are problematic elements but redeeming qualities with each one, which was so much fun to explore.
Setting
This book is set in Ethiopia, which is a country I’ll honestly admit that I know nothing about. But I felt an intimate connection to the world the author created through her descriptions. The culture is well developed as is the magic system created for this story. I enjoyed the magic and it had the right about of detail so I felt like I understood how the system worked without being weighed down with descriptions.
My Recommendation
Within These Wicked Walls is Lauren Blackwood’s debut novel. I highly recommend it for fans of Down Comes The Night and other dark YA Fantasy novels. While the book is marketed as a retelling of Jane Eyre, fans of Charlotte Bronte likely wouldn’t find more than very general inspirations from the source material. However, the book has an engaging plot and well-developed characters and setting.
