I really enjoyed this. It's described as a supernatural Jane Eyre retelling - I've not read Jane Eyre so can't comment on that, but the supernatural setting based in Ethiopia and the magic system based on Debtera, amulets and carving was right up my street. The Evil Eye and the descriptions of what happened in the house were very chilling and reminiscent of The Shining with the gallons of blood filling the rooms. The relationship between the two main characters was very insta love and developed far too quickly for my liking, plus Magnus was pretty annoying and whiny and didn't really add much except as a vessel for the demon hyena.
What I enjoyed more was the exploration of the main character Andromeda, and her father figure Jember and how that progressed through the latter half of the book was very bittersweet.

I really loved the atmosphere in this book. The characters and their relationships were very compelling. I was intrigued by this being a Jane Eyre retelling. Whilst I think there are some things the author needs to work on, understandably so with this being a debut, I had a good time and will read from them again.

Within These Wicked Walls is a Jane Eyre retelling, with a heavy reliance on the supernatural elements. Some aspects of the story are more successful than others, but it certainly offers an interesting exploration of some of the origin story.
Our main character, Andi, is a debtera who is hired to exorcise homes of the Evil Eye. She is not actually qualified, but her skill is evident. She is hired by Magnus Rochester, a young man who is haunted by something that has taken away everyone he loves. He is hopeful that Andi will be the one to save him.
While the story begins in dramatic fashion, it was hard to really understand where this haunting came from. Andi's relationship with Magnus really did spring from nothing, and I don't feel it offered much to the overall effect. Her relationship with the spirits and her mentor/father-figure were more compelling although not really developed fully until the character was required to help her.

Within these wicked walls sounded great as a premise- but I honestly struggled to stay invested. Many Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

so story wise, I mean an exorcist brought into a chaotic home with some desire starting up to the owner? And it’s a retelling of Jayne Eyre? Sign me up
The plot is solid since it’s a retelling, my massive upset is the fact I was expecting this to be more of a mystery/thriller based with some scares based on the premise and romance being a side plot since it was mentioned right at the end of the synopsis- but this is definitely more heavily gothic romance. The folklore side was fascinating, and reading that it’s based on Ethiopian folklore made me go away and do more research and honestly it’s so well written and fascinating from this aspect it’s what kept me reading. The pacing was quite slow, but honestly it worked to build up the atmosphere in the story
The characters are fine, but honestly they just felt a bit two dimensional and flat to me, but I did like the development of the relationship between Andromeda and Magnus.
If you are really wanting to get a gothic romance, this is definitely a solid read- just don’t be expecting a massively scary/thriller based book like I was.

Well, I’m a little bit torn about this book. I was so intrigued to read an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling, but personally I didn’t think there was a lot of Jane Eyre in this story. However, there are some clever takes on Ethiopian folklore, some genuinely creepy scenes and a whole lot of romance.

I think this might be better promoted as just a YA horror romance, and I’m sure fans of that genre will enjoy this. It opens with action from the very start as we meet our protagonist, Andromeda, arriving at an old manor for a new assignment as a ‘debtera’ – cleansing the house of the ‘evil eye’. There’s some great, creepy scenes as she starts to settle in and get the lay of the land, but the spooky factor is quickly overshadowed by an insta-love, over-the-top romance with her employer, Magnus Rochester.

Sadly, I think this is where the book falls down for me. I often enjoy romance in books, but the romance in this was just not for me – I didn’t enjoy Magnus as a character, he was needy and whiney, and couldn’t understand why a strong woman like Andromeda saw in him.

But there were other relationships in this book I did like. Andi makes some unusual friends (and potential enemies) during her time at the house, and we also meet her adoptive father and mentor, Jember. Their complicated and fractuous relationship was probably my favourite in the story, and I’d rather have had more Jember and less Magnus.

Another thing that hindered my reading experience, which is perhaps my own fault, was that I didn’t realise how much the “magic system” in this world was based on Ethiopian folklore. The world-building outside of the manor is limited, and I wish the author had taken a little more time exploring the wider Ethiopian world, culture and beliefs. As it was, I found it all a little complex and confusing – maybe I should have read up on the history of ‘debteras’ and the ‘evil eye’ before reading this story.

For me, this book had a lot of potential but it didn’t deliver on it in the way I wanted. I know it’s hugely popular so I may be in the minority here – I’m sure many other readers will love it.

Nope nope nope. Not for me. Poorly written, badly plotted, and just not something I would recommend at all

So I don’t usually read YA but I couldn’t resist requesting this one when I saw it was a Reese’s YA book club pick. It read a lot more modern than I thought but it also read very much like a Jane Eyre retelling. I loved the paranormal elements, it was a very interesting take. I enjoyed the characters too, it was a really quick and enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the concept of this book, I didn’t know anything about Debtera but found the subject interesting.

The manifestations of Magnus’s curse & wanting to find out how Andromeda ended up in this position compelled me to continue with this book. I’m not a fan of love stories where it’s super instant with not much development but perhaps this was in keeping with Jane Eyre which inspired this story.
I much preferred the supernatural elements of this story, but appreciated that the love aspect was what drove Andromeda’s efforts to release Magnus and the house from the curse.

It's taken me a long time to get to this. Part of the reason is that I wasn't sure what to expect. I haven't read Jane Eyre and reading a brief synopsis didn't really help. So, I can't say if it's an actual retelling or just stole a bit of the location and a name.

This was...a strange book. Spooky, but then with a bit of insta-love. Some elements were predictable and some weren't. In some areas, the books genre felt a bit conflicted. Overall, if was well written and the spooky aspects were truly creepy. However seconds later would be followed by some sickly sweet words. A 3.5 rounded down to 3 as I sped through the ending in an attempt to finish this book quickly.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

Tried to read but realised very early on that this book and the authors writing style is very clearly not for me. DNF.

I really liked this retelling of Jane Eyre. I found the way the story was transposed and reimagined was done really well and found it to be a great futuristic modernisation of the story. Andromeda was a layered and interesting character to follow and i thought that she had a great behaviour and approach to how she dealt with the events of the story. The action was written well and i was hooked on every single page.

A very spooky enjoyable read. Some are saying it’s a Jane Eyre retelling but as someone whose never read it I couldn’t tell you if it is but this was a good book. It had all the spooky elements, curses, evil spirits. This is perfect for ya gothic fans and this is one you won’t want to miss. A fantastic debut that you need to read.

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 is to find a Patron - a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities.

When a handsome heir named Magnus reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he's rude and eccentric, that the contract comes with outlandish rules, and that the many previous debteras had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice.

But this is a job like no other, and Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the likely outcome if she stays, the reason every debtera before her quit. But leaving Magnus to live out his curse isn't an option because, heaven help her, she's fallen for him. Wow, what a rollercoaster ride of an ending that was… I love it when a book shocks the pants off of me… I would highly recommend this to a friend and would shout it from any roof top!

If you like romance, clever banter, a dashing hero and a brave and independent heroine Within These Wicked Walls is for you. You must also like manifestations and a creepy castle with a Gothic feel because the Evil Eye, family curses and exorcisms all add to the texture and feel of the story. I did not find much in the story to call it a Jane Eyre retelling or so much gore and creepiness to call it a horror story but Ms. Blackwood's debut novel is a fantasy that will keep you entertained. I look forward to more from this new author

This was just…not very good? I love the concept (although I grit my teeth when anyone says Jane Eyre retelling because a) it does not need retelling and b) I have seen exactly no one ever do a good book of the back of that). The beginning and set up with the Gothic vibes and creepy house was great. But the characterisation was abysmal. I don’t think calling this a Jane Eyre retelling does the book any favours either. It’s (fortunately) nothing like the classic – which is just as well because if it had been, I would have had to ask whether the author understood the original in view of how the themes were treated. Part of the problem was this was YA in the way I don’t like it done – which is a target audience issue. But the rest of it was just a bit of a mess. Not for me at any rate.

I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read. I don’t usually read supernatural so I was unsure about this one. However, it is a a Reece Witherspoon Bookclub pick and therefore in my TBR list.
I’m pleased I have read this, the story line flowed well and I enjoyed the supernatural elements. There is also romance which ties in nicely.

Not so much a retelling of Jane Eyre more inspired by Jane Eyre.

An enjoyable easy read that would be perfect to be read around Halloween with its theme of the supernatural.
Creepy in parts but not too frightening that it keeps you awake at night.

I disliked the character of Magnus Rochester from the start but couldn't help enjoying the romance between him and Andromeda (Andi) a bit like the one in Jane Eyre, a spoilt rich man and an impoverished orphan that saves him.

The story flows well and isn't too complex so is easy to follow with a nice conclusion. It didn't 'Wow' me but I did enjoy it and am glad I've read it as I've been hearing people talk about this all year.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for a honest review. .

2 stars

ARC provided by publisher on NetGalley for an honest review

Within These Wicked Walls was marketed as a Jane Eyre reimagining rooted in Ethiopian culture, which I think is a major contributor to why I personally didn’t like this book. I love Jane Eyre and the work of the Brontë sisters, so I was so excited to see an upcoming YA with this premise, but aside from the name Mr Rochester, there weren’t really any similarities to Jane Eyre. Instead, Within These Wicked Walls felt like it was trying to be a romance with a background of horror and supernatural.

The “horror” elements of Within These Wicked Walls unfortunately fell short for me; I didn’t find it unsettling, unnerving or interesting really. This could be on my part as I am someone who enjoys Latinx Gothic fiction which really is a whole new level of weird (/pos), and I think based on other reviews, many readers did enjoy this and find it captivating. Unfortunately for me, it just didn’t really interest me in the slightest.

The romantic plot within this novel again, didn’t do it for me. The relationship between Andi and Magnus felt very insta-love (a trope I really do not enjoy), and I found myself wishing there was a more cohesive development. Had the atmosphere of the novel been more alike to the rigidity of the Victorian environment within Jane Eyre, I may have found the romance more bearable, and the angst and pining less annoying. Instead it felt very forced, and entirely void of any real development or connection between the two.

This isn’t to say I don’t think there was potential within this book. Jember’s character fascinated me and I felt a lot more connection to the dynamic between Jember and Andi. Had this been explored in more depth, I may have enjoyed this book a lot more. Jember’s character had complexity and depth that I felt was lacking in both Andi and Magnus’ characters. The background of Ethiopian history and culture also provided an opportunity to explore colonialism and construct a post-colonial text that really cut into the ugly history. Although Ethiopia was “never colonised” according to many historians, I think there was definitely potential to explore the Italian occupation, and the impacts of colonialism on the country, even if they were more removed.

With all the positive reviews for Within These Wicked Walls, I’m inclined to think that it was me and my reading choices which were the major contributors to my dislike of this book. For me personally, this felt like a book which held a lot of potential with a really promising concept, but the execution felt flat and lacked proper flow. I wish I could have enjoyed Within These Wicked Walls more, but it really didn’t interest me in the slightest.

Andromeda is a debtera, an exorcist who cleanses houses from the presence of the Evil Eye. Abandoned by her master and father-figure before she could get her license, Andromeda needs a proper patron, someone well-connected who can attest to her abilities as a debtera and recommend her for other jobs. Enter Magnus Rochester. He is the sole heir of Thorne Manor and he hires Andromeda to cleanse it before he takes over his father’s business on his 21st birthday. Other debteras have tried to do the job before her, but either they ran away or they died trying. However, Andromeda is determined to get the job done, no matter the danger. The job is complicated by her relationship with handsome Magnus, who is arrogant and privileged, but also charming and entertaining.

It is good thing that I read Within These Wicked Walls while I was on holiday and I had a lot of free time to read, because I devoured this debut fantasy. It is atmospheric, gothic, claustrophobic, and gripping. It reminds of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, with the abandoned heroine in search of affection, the cranky male protagonist (whose name, of course, is Rochester), and the haunted castle. Add a well-developed and intriguing world-building and you have a fantastic story!

I loved the characters of Andromeda and Marcus. Their witty exchanges added a bit of levity despite the horrors that haunted the house and I liked how they develop both singularly and together throughout the story.

There is horror, monsters, murders, but also romance, friendship, and reconciliation. Action-packed, riveting, and terrifying, I can’t recommend Within These Wicked Walls enough!