What I like about Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
Summary: Andromeda is a broke, unlicensed exorcist (debtera) hired to get rid of the evil infesting wealthy, young Magnus Rochester’s mansion. The “Evil Eye” curse passed down from his father, affects Magnus himself so he is stuck in his house of horrors unless Andromeda can free him from the curse. The story is billed as a Jane Eyre retelling but is really a Beauty and the Beast tale since it quickly becomes clear that Magnus himself is cursed and is the center of the problem. In fact, Magnus even has a castle full of quirky loyal servants who stick with him despite the bizarre happenings around them and despite the periodic disappearances of members of the staff. Although several prior professional exorcists have fled the mansion, Andromeda really needs the money so she stays to try to “cleanse” the house and save Magnus whom she quickly grows to care for.
What I like about the story: The heroine, Andromeda, is strong, pragmatic, and focused despite the bizarre dangers and her growing attraction to Magnus. This is a story where she is going to have to save the “hero.” He is both the damsel in distress and the dragon she has to defeat, and not just by true love’s kiss or something easy like that. She has to actually fight, intellectually and physically, to save him. The evil manifestations in the cursed mansion are both terrifying and intriguing—bleeding walls, snowfall inside a room, an angry library where book fly at her like projectiles. I like the fact that Magnus is not the traditional alpha hero. He is alternatively charming, childlike, vulnerable, artistic, gruff, tearful, cynical, and sweet. I also enjoyed the side characters, including Saba, a supernatural manifestation who protects Magnus and befriends Andromeda, and Jember, Andromeda’s former teacher and surrogate father with whom she has a fraught relationship.
What I would change: The setting is supposed to be Ethiopia but the details are not immersive enough to anchor the sense of place. It instead feels like a story set in an alternate reality version of 19th century Europe (especially with the Jane Eyre references). The characters’ voices and descriptions (lots of “blushing”) made it hard to grasp the setting or visualize the characters. Another thing I would change: Andromeda quickly falls in love with Magnus, becoming determined to do anything to save him, including putting other innocent people at risk. I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling but the messaging that you should sacrifice everything, including other people, to change a monster was a little problematic for me. In real life, sometimes you need to walk away from the monsters, no matter how charming they are.
Overall, this is a great gothic horror romance for those who want a page-turning adventure with a strong female protagonist and exciting but not overly-graphic intrigue.
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Reviews with images
Stop Look Listen
Read or listen to this novel because you will at once suspend your reality and join the young female heroine as she fights the most deceitful , malignant, and otherworldly foe. While at the same time, revel in a gothic romance full of love, pain, and the insecurity of finding your person. This novel will have you reading it several times for the pleasure.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
Pretty good! Not a very fast paced book but I enjoyed the story.
Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2021Linda Wright
Defnitely a young adult book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2024