Scan barcode
srmilesauthor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As is characteristic of the author, this is a magic system that is very unique and I recommend the audiobook to hear the lyricism of the words in a carribbean mouth.
It's Young Adult, but reads up quite a bit given the time period. Strong sexual themes and trigger warning for assault.
It's Young Adult, but reads up quite a bit given the time period. Strong sexual themes and trigger warning for assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, and Child abuse
jinmichae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved a lot of things about this book, but the plot felt messy to me. Strong start, compelling main character, and a challenge that seems insurmountable all for me interested from the start.
Unfortunately, for me it got muddled up with the romance factor. I think it would have worked better with a longer "will they/won't they" phase, or if there were more stakes for them to have to consider their feelings. I hate misunderstandings that come from something the characters could just have talked about, but even that would have created more tension:if Thorn thought that Victoria was actually committed to her other "lovers" and was more subtle with his desires.
I wanted to know more about the jungle and the dangers present there, but the feeling of constant present danger wasn't there as the got farther off the trail. They had no Wildbloods watching at night?It was mere coincidence that Victoria noticed the soul eater: if she hadn't been awake, the whole camp could have been killed.
I think mostly this could have done with some tightening up. I felt there were too many scenes basically hashing out the same conversation between Thorn and Victoria, and it killed the tension and pacing. They, and the reader, forget they're in a dangerous jungle.And I hate that Thorn doesn't really agree that the jungle and the gold belong to no one but the jungle. I feel that should have been a bigger sticking point for Victoria.
Finally, the scene in the orchard was quite anticlimactic. Victoria alludes to not knowing what's actually there, why there are "man eaters" if there's no men there. But it's just trees with gold sap? And we only really see it in a glance as she tries to help Thorn. I also didn't understand why she didn't just stay in the jungle: why return to the boss at all? Especially with how it ends?
In some ways this felt like a first draft, which is frustrating because I really enjoyed the writing, the glimpses we saw of the jungle's beauty and danger, and the different characters. I think the plot just got muddied up in the middle, and the tone became less consistent, which lost the danger and immediacy of the early chapters.
All that said, I loved Biggs. I think he was my favorite part of the book. I almost yelled with how happy I was that he loved Victoria just like the rest of the jungle.
Unfortunately, for me it got muddled up with the romance factor. I think it would have worked better with a longer "will they/won't they" phase, or if there were more stakes for them to have to consider their feelings. I hate misunderstandings that come from something the characters could just have talked about, but even that would have created more tension:
I wanted to know more about the jungle and the dangers present there, but the feeling of constant present danger wasn't there as the got farther off the trail. They had no Wildbloods watching at night?
I think mostly this could have done with some tightening up. I felt there were too many scenes basically hashing out the same conversation between Thorn and Victoria, and it killed the tension and pacing. They, and the reader, forget they're in a dangerous jungle.
In some ways this felt like a first draft, which is frustrating because I really enjoyed the writing, the glimpses we saw of the jungle's beauty and danger, and the different characters. I think the plot just got muddied up in the middle, and the tone became less consistent, which lost the danger and immediacy of the early chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Colonisation, Grief, Slavery, Trafficking, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Bullying, Murder, Racism, Torture, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
kefeshe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
ladyseven's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Child abuse
petab's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping, Child death, and Slavery
apieceofjaaay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I picked this book up hoping for a fantasy adventure. However, it turned out to be more of romance with the fantasy in the background. I generally enjoy romances but this insta-love wasn’t very enjoyable for me especially since she loved her love interest for all the things she was annoyed by with her “brother”.
Pros: the writing was enjoyable + descriptive. It was dark and brutal but not unbearable. The setting was cool. I liked that it took place in most of the jungle and all the creatures that were created. I liked that the female MC chose her own happiness in the end.
Cons: I didn’t care for any of the characters. I found the female mc to be annoying. She was naive but confident, also the strongest Wildblood but also couldn’t stand up for herself. I also feel like the timeline wasn’t very clear. I think it would’ve helped if the chapter titles had denoted the days.
Neutrals: All of the connections seemed fluid. I almost felt like she could’ve had 3 different love interests. The pacing was okay.
Pros: the writing was enjoyable + descriptive. It was dark and brutal but not unbearable. The setting was cool. I liked that it took place in most of the jungle and all the creatures that were created. I liked that the female MC chose her own happiness in the end.
Cons: I didn’t care for any of the characters. I found the female mc to be annoying. She was naive but confident, also the strongest Wildblood but also couldn’t stand up for herself. I also feel like the timeline wasn’t very clear. I think it would’ve helped if the chapter titles had denoted the days.
Neutrals: All of the connections seemed fluid. I almost felt like she could’ve had 3 different love interests. The pacing was okay.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Death, Violence, Rape, Murder, Gun violence, and Child death
amobrien's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An absolutely exciting, adventurous fantasy with an excellent setting, I really liked Wildblood! I think there was a good combination of action and romance, and it read really cinematically. It touches on topics like colonialism, abuse, slavery, rape, and more, but it does so in a way that isn't too graphic for a young adult audience. I was also really intrigued by the magic and felt the story had interesting world-building. Overall, it was well done, though the writing seemed a bit rushed at times.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, and Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Child death, and Slavery
the_b00kreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"You . . . you tamed a shadow creature?" he asks dumbly.
"What, like it's hard?"
**TW**
blood, death, gore, domestic violence, r*pe, betrayal, grief, kidnapping, slavery, racism
Wildblood was amazing. That's all I feel like I need to say. It's a story that you simply have to read. Where do you truly feel at home? Where do you truly belong?
These two questions seem to pop into your mind as you read this book through the eyes of the main character, Victoria.
Victoria is a light-skinned Wildblood, a 'Rare Beauty' yet that doesn't stop harm from coming her way.
This book was bittersweet and heartfelt, magical yet real. Every emotion you may have suppressed is likely to come to the surface.
Wildblood is written in such a way that I could not be torn away from reading, I just had to keep going. The story this book held, the deeper meanings, it was all so beautiful.
I must say, I'm glad how the story ended and I don't believe I could picture a more perfect ending. This book is worthy of your time, so please give it a go. (I insist!🤭)
Lauren Blackwood, you've written a story that has touched my heart. To read about such a strong connection and such a strong female lead, I feel honoured. Thank you for writing Wildblood and sharing it. ♡ (I shall now dedicate myself to reading previously published and future releases by you!)
"What, like it's hard?"
**TW**
blood, death, gore, domestic violence, r*pe, betrayal, grief, kidnapping, slavery, racism
Wildblood was amazing. That's all I feel like I need to say. It's a story that you simply have to read. Where do you truly feel at home? Where do you truly belong?
These two questions seem to pop into your mind as you read this book through the eyes of the main character, Victoria.
Victoria is a light-skinned Wildblood, a 'Rare Beauty' yet that doesn't stop harm from coming her way.
This book was bittersweet and heartfelt, magical yet real. Every emotion you may have suppressed is likely to come to the surface.
Wildblood is written in such a way that I could not be torn away from reading, I just had to keep going. The story this book held, the deeper meanings, it was all so beautiful.
I must say, I'm glad how the story ended and I don't believe I could picture a more perfect ending. This book is worthy of your time, so please give it a go. (I insist!🤭)
Lauren Blackwood, you've written a story that has touched my heart. To read about such a strong connection and such a strong female lead, I feel honoured. Thank you for writing Wildblood and sharing it. ♡ (I shall now dedicate myself to reading previously published and future releases by you!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Kidnapping, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Child death, Rape, Murder, Blood, Racism, Hate crime, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Abandonment
e_flah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Wildblood is a fantasy adventure story set in an atmospheric setting where certain people have the ability to harness blood to perform magic. This is a plot-driven story that follows Victoria on a tour through the jungle helping lead a group of miners to a mythical grove of golden trees. The pacing is pretty consistent with lots of action throughout. Victoria's journey to fully understand the abuse she suffered as an indentured worker at the tour company is emotional and well done.
The setting of Wildblood has a ton of ambience but a disappointing lack of substantive world building. There is SO much cool stuff in this story -- from spirits that haunt the jungle to the river spirit River Mumma -- but we don't get a lot of descriptions or any discussion about how these things fit within the wider world of Wildblood. It felt like the magical creatures were two-dimensional props for the story rather than interesting, complex parts of the setting. More world building would have helped make this a more memorable read rather than a somewhat predictable adventure story.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The setting of Wildblood has a ton of ambience but a disappointing lack of substantive world building. There is SO much cool stuff in this story -- from spirits that haunt the jungle to the river spirit River Mumma -- but we don't get a lot of descriptions or any discussion about how these things fit within the wider world of Wildblood. It felt like the magical creatures were two-dimensional props for the story rather than interesting, complex parts of the setting. More world building would have helped make this a more memorable read rather than a somewhat predictable adventure story.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, and Gore
luckylulureads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Self harm, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
Colorism, near-enslavement