Within These Wicked Walls: the must-read Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

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But more than anything, I came here for the elements of horror, and they did not disappoint. As wonderful as the romance is at balancing out this story and making it a little easier to get through for those who don’t normally read dark fantasy, the manifestations take center stage in a myriad of ways. A young woman faces internal and external demons in the name of love in this reimagining of Jane Eyre.

And towards end nothing really even made sense. There were rules established about how the manifestations work and when they come out and then suddenly those rules don't apply because... Andi doesn't want them to? The climax really didn't make sense and never should have happened the way it did.Let me start off by saying that my tastes as of late have been drifting closer and closer to the horror aspect of dark fantasy, and this book gave me everything I wanted and a whole hell of a lot more. I don't know if this book is in ya category as the main character Andri is 19 years old, but to me it definitely read as ya horror. It took a me a while to read this one not because the book was bad, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrator. Nevertheless, this book was creepy AF. I don't think I was expecting that. A dazzling retelling of ‘Jane Eyre,’... promises readers a fantastical, edge-of-the seat, swooning-over-Magnus kind of experience.” - THE SEATTLE TIMES Well, you can take that up with Mr. Rochester. Until then, don’t turn yourself into some great lady and start making your own rules.” She opened a door a few feet from the top of the stairs. “This will be your room. You really should be downstairs with the servants, but Mr. Rochester wanted you down the hall from him. It’s small, but you don’t seem to have much, anyway.”

Thus, she finds herself at the cusp of adulthood on her own. She needs to start making her own way. When she gets offered a position to cleanse the mysterious Rochester household of a crippling case of the Evil Eye, she accepts. Okay, so I really tried with this one because when I first heard about this book, I was SO EXCITED. Okay? SO. EXCITED. JANE EYRE is one of my favorite works of classic literature and when I found out that it was going to have Ethiopian elements, I may have screamed. I campaigned so hard for an ARC and DID NOT GET ONE, so I waited like the good book peasant I am for the chance to get a copy with coin. I am not as well versed in Ethiopian lore, so I can't personally attest to the hyenas and their role, but they seemed to work at least as out of sight out of mind villains. I wish there were a bit more about their appearance than what horrors they rendered. 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.When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester 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. The master of the house, Magnus Rochester, is charming and endearing, but also a bit of a rascal. Andi feels an almost instant attraction to him. Frankly, it would be hard not to. In terms of world building and fantasy element, i think the book did a great job with this premise. This was unique. This was really something that I would’ve loved so much if not for the book having a main plot of romance which i did not enjoy at all. In terms of character, like ANDI is such a layered character and DAMN I LOVED HER!! I was so excited to know more about her past and stuff and yes i did like what we got from that aspect, but.... yeah magnus ruined everything i hate it here. Magnus is your typical ya rich brat who’s inheriting his rich fathers money. Yeah... LIKE LITERALLY YOUR TOKEN YA love interest. And god the interactions were cringey. The dialogue in terms of how he flirts. Idk why im critical of this but it just urked me so much. Whenever Magnus is present its just an embarrassment HOW COULD THIS BOOK GO SO WRONG WITH THIS ONE THING??? Pretty much the banter was horrible and that one scene when they first kiss was so... uncomfortable to read about??? Yikes 😬.

This supposed to be Jane Eyre retelling, and although I can see little similarity in setting (big castle) and ghost who maybe was it's version of captured wife from the Jane Eyre, I can't agree that this is retelling. Magnus, as well, was a delight. I wanted to help him as much as Andi did; he was in so much trouble when she came to him. The stakes were extremely high and time was of the essence. She raised her eyebrows, her gaze lingering too long on my face, but not looking me in the eye. My scar. I rubbed my cheek like I was soothing a sudden itch, wishing I could take the long mark on my skin with it. I always forgot it was there until I met someone new, and they stared at it like I’d grown a third eye.

‘Within These Wicked Walls’ hit store shelves on October 19, 2021

I do wish the audiobook would've gone with a different narrator as I didn't feel like the British narrator fit the setting of this story. I kept getting transported to Victorian mansion instead of Ethiopian inspired castle. I hate when British accent is the default for fantasies not set in even a fictionalized version of England. I loved the creep vibe and the narrative voice of Andromeda. She was a fun character to journey through this haunting house with.