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A review by nataliealane
Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood
3.0
*NOTE: Before reading, I did not know Lauren Blackwood is a “romance heavy-fantasy” writer. If you love romantasy books and are OK with heavy topics in your books, Wildblood may be more your speed. Ultimately, it wasn’t the best book for me, but it may be for you! For reference 3 ⭐️ isn’t “bad” to me. It’s either “just OK,” “wasn’t for me” or “had potential.”
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This book had so much potential for me but ultimately fell flat because it stopped focusing on what were the most compelling elements to me, like the setting, unique magic and spirits, and commentary on topics like colonialism and the environment. I wanted there to be worldbuilding with the magic and setting up the characters. There’s an alternate history setting in 1800s Jamaica with magic. THAT’S SO COOL. The jungle was a lush, vibrant setting, and I wanted more. There needed to be more worldbuilding with the magic and setting up the characters (why are Dean and Victoria pitted against each other? Why/how is Victoria the most powerful wildblood? Why do people so intensely dislike or avoid her?
A lot of the plot ends up being the romance, which I also wasn’t a big fan of. There’s several moments that should be heartfelt, emotional, or sweet, but in general I got big icks. Thorn is overbearing in his pursuit of Victoria even when it’s clear she’s worried about it’s appropriateness (he’s a client) or how it will affect her dynamics with the rest of the crew. He declares his love within 2 days of knowing her, yet he constantly dismissed her concerns. He says he will do anything to protect her, will kill for her, etc. but puts her in situations that endanger her. He constantly praises her, calls her beloved, sweet girl, and goddess among women, but it just comes off as overdone and false to me. However, I can see where the romance is important for Victoria’s recovery and the idea that she can as deserves to be loved.
Also HUGE CW for abuse. MC is abused in a variety of ways, and her past sexual assault by her boss is a critical point in the book. Dean also enables the abuse and has abusive and threatening tendencies himself (abused becoming the abuser). Throughout the tour, he uses his knowledge of the assault, Victoria’s weaknesses, etc. to get his way and push her into uncomfortable sotuations, intentionally breaking protocols.
Other CW: kidnapping/human trafficking, gore, racism, colorism, child death, sexual content (ch.16)
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This book had so much potential for me but ultimately fell flat because it stopped focusing on what were the most compelling elements to me, like the setting, unique magic and spirits, and commentary on topics like colonialism and the environment. I wanted there to be worldbuilding with the magic and setting up the characters. There’s an alternate history setting in 1800s Jamaica with magic. THAT’S SO COOL. The jungle was a lush, vibrant setting, and I wanted more. There needed to be more worldbuilding with the magic and setting up the characters (why are Dean and Victoria pitted against each other? Why/how is Victoria the most powerful wildblood? Why do people so intensely dislike or avoid her?
A lot of the plot ends up being the romance, which I also wasn’t a big fan of. There’s several moments that should be heartfelt, emotional, or sweet, but in general I got big icks. Thorn is overbearing in his pursuit of Victoria even when it’s clear she’s worried about it’s appropriateness (he’s a client) or how it will affect her dynamics with the rest of the crew. He declares his love within 2 days of knowing her, yet he constantly dismissed her concerns. He says he will do anything to protect her, will kill for her, etc. but puts her in situations that endanger her. He constantly praises her, calls her beloved, sweet girl, and goddess among women, but it just comes off as overdone and false to me. However, I can see where the romance is important for Victoria’s recovery and the idea that she can as deserves to be loved.
Also HUGE CW for abuse. MC is abused in a variety of ways, and her past sexual assault by her boss is a critical point in the book. Dean also enables the abuse and has abusive and threatening tendencies himself (abused becoming the abuser). Throughout the tour, he uses his knowledge of the assault, Victoria’s weaknesses, etc. to get his way and push her into uncomfortable sotuations, intentionally breaking protocols.
Other CW: kidnapping/human trafficking, gore, racism, colorism, child death, sexual content (ch.16)