A Review of Lauren Blackwood's "Within these Wicked Walls" (audiobook)

Lauren Blackwood’s “Within these Wicked Walls” is a wonderful dark,  horror romance. I love anything inspired by “Jane Eyre,” and this did not disappoint. Andromeda works as an unlicensed debtera, a sort of exorcist, and she is called into the desert to cleanse a haunted castle. She falls in love with the owner, Magnus Rochester, who is the cursed individual. Together with the help of Andi’s mentor and an unlikely, undead ally, they work to overcome the curse before it is too late. 

I really enjoyed this novel. The touches on racial and socioeconomic politics made for interesting undertones. The manifestations, or hauntings, were well thought-out and plenty creepy when they needed to be, but I also liked the touches where they were light-hearted and offered some respite from the grief and labors the characters must endure. There are some complicated relationships, but because of them, the story felt more realistic despite its fantastical elements. 

The narrator, Nneka Okoye, did an excellent job with Andi’s first-person perspective. I could have listened to her for much longer. 

I loved this book and would like to revisit this world that Blackwood has created in “Within these Wicked Walls.” I downloaded it using the Libby app, and you should too!