On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Lauren Blackwood all about her debut novel, Within These Wicked Walls, which is described as, “An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which Andromeda—an unlicensed debtera—is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with the boy whose life hangs in the balance.”
Here’s the summary…
Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.
Those picking up Within These Wicked Walls looking for a beat-for-beat Jane Eyre retelling are probably going to be disappointed, but I highly encourage you to forget about all that and read this incredible thriller from Lauren based on its own merits. Filled with all the horror tropes you could want, including a somewhat unconventional romance, a top-to-bottom great cast of characters, and a haunted house you won’t soon forget, this is a wonderful debut from Lauren, perfect for this time of year.
Steve and Lauren talk about her many passions including playing the violin, she’s a professional after all, the insta-love trope and why it’s totally okay, the Jane Eyre connection to the book, Within These Wicked Walls of course, and much, much more.
Within These Wicked Walls is out now, click HERE to order a copy today!
Cover art by PALESA.
About the Author:
Lauren Blackwood is a Jamaican American New Yorker living in Virginia who writes Romance-heavy Fantasy for most ages. When not writing, she’s a physical therapist assistant and violinist who really doesn’t know how to settle on one career field. Her debut YA novel, Within These Wicked Walls, is forthcoming from Wednesday Books in Fall 2021.
