Within These Wicked Walls

Within These Wicked Walls

by Lauren Blackwood

Andromeda is a debtera, hired to cleanse manifestations of the Evil Eye and create amulets to protect the wearers. Without a reference, Andromeda is forced to accept a job at a mansion with the worst manifestations seen for years.

Owned by the mysterious Magnus Rochester, the large house is filled with magic and manifestations to the point where no other debtera has succeeded in cleansing it. Not only are there spirits haunting every room and hallway, but there is a curse on the Rochester family.

As Andromeda starts working on cleansing each room in the house, she finds herself drawn to the owner of the house and his story. Over time, she wants more to cleanse the house for him instead of for the money he is offering.

But there is more to this curse than even Andromeda can fight and time is running out.

Final thoughts: This starts as a Jane Eyre retelling in Ethopia, but it goes rogue pretty soon so there really isn't much similar beyond the outlines. The magic is well done and many of the characters are interesting, but I found myself confused by the passage of time in the story and also by the Rochester character. Both time and the owner are distracting because they are inconsistent throughout. 

Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.