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A review by clairetrellahill
Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood
Victoria is a wildblood, a person with magic that sometimes takes hold of them, in something like indentured servitude to a tour company in Jamaica that takes people through the jungle. The tour company "employs" wildbloods to get their customers through the jungle safely, as the jungle is full of deadly plants and other dangers like ghosts and mysterious things that lurk in the shadows. When a new group arrives, headed by Laertes Thorn, that needs not just to go [i]through[/i] the jungle, but up the mountain, Victoria is the one he chooses to lead their expedition (and show some more personal interest in).
Wildblood was a really interesting book. The read was very quick and flowed well. I was very into the setting and the characters and Victoria's troubles. The cast of characters was great, as Victoria had a big heart and cared about everyone around her. Victoria's ex Dean is also a part of the expedition so there was some serious drama there as we discovered what Dean had done to betray her so badly.
However, I came away from the book with a lot of questions that I didn't really get many answers for. The details on the setting and world that we got were extremely interesting, but I wanted [i]more[/i]. The way certain plot events played out in some cases versus others did not always operate on the same logic (without getting into serious spoilers, why does Samson get a pass, but not Bunny?). We also learn some pretty big things about Victoria halfway through the book that possibly explain why she's so powerful, but we don't dwell on anything beyond those implications, and I felt like there could be so much more we could dig into. River Mumma was so cool and I wanted ALL OF IT! The author is also juggling a variety of topics that are very weighty, so it was hard to give space to them all.
I also think that time spent with Dean dealing with the arc Victoria goes to with regards to All That Drama, while I definitely see what she was going for and appreciate it, did take a lot of page time away from Thorn and the rest of the crew. And there is one sex scene (YA level, few details) but it did not land well for me because it came as a result of a "I'm Very Sad and Need To Feel Things" moment, and I don't like that as a motivator. (But that may be personal to me, YMMV)
That said, the author does some things that I do really love. She does transport you to a magical jungle and makes you feel as though you're there. Her love interest, as well, really comes across as dynamic and fun. Thorn is such a charismatic character. I also really appreciate how she weaves faith through her books and makes it feel like a natural part of the characters' world and personality.
I think it was a great concept and a fun read for anyone who wants a deadly jungle adventure. And for my asks of wanting more, perhaps the author will write more books in the world or featuring the characters and pick up some of those hooks; I would be definitely down for that.
Note: I would check content warnings before reading because of the aforesaid heavy topics in the book.
Heat level: 2 (one on-page scene at the end of chapter 16, but of a YA level-no specific descriptions, easily could cruise over.)
Wildblood was a really interesting book. The read was very quick and flowed well. I was very into the setting and the characters and Victoria's troubles. The cast of characters was great, as Victoria had a big heart and cared about everyone around her. Victoria's ex Dean is also a part of the expedition so there was some serious drama there as we discovered what Dean had done to betray her so badly.
However, I came away from the book with a lot of questions that I didn't really get many answers for. The details on the setting and world that we got were extremely interesting, but I wanted [i]more[/i]. The way certain plot events played out in some cases versus others did not always operate on the same logic (without getting into serious spoilers, why does Samson get a pass, but not Bunny?). We also learn some pretty big things about Victoria halfway through the book that possibly explain why she's so powerful, but we don't dwell on anything beyond those implications, and I felt like there could be so much more we could dig into. River Mumma was so cool and I wanted ALL OF IT! The author is also juggling a variety of topics that are very weighty, so it was hard to give space to them all.
I also think that time spent with Dean dealing with the arc Victoria goes to with regards to All That Drama, while I definitely see what she was going for and appreciate it, did take a lot of page time away from Thorn and the rest of the crew. And there is one sex scene (YA level, few details) but it did not land well for me because it came as a result of a "I'm Very Sad and Need To Feel Things" moment, and I don't like that as a motivator. (But that may be personal to me, YMMV)
That said, the author does some things that I do really love. She does transport you to a magical jungle and makes you feel as though you're there. Her love interest, as well, really comes across as dynamic and fun. Thorn is such a charismatic character. I also really appreciate how she weaves faith through her books and makes it feel like a natural part of the characters' world and personality.
I think it was a great concept and a fun read for anyone who wants a deadly jungle adventure. And for my asks of wanting more, perhaps the author will write more books in the world or featuring the characters and pick up some of those hooks; I would be definitely down for that.
Note: I would check content warnings before reading because of the aforesaid heavy topics in the book.
Heat level: 2 (one on-page scene at the end of chapter 16, but of a YA level-no specific descriptions, easily could cruise over.)