By April C., Crofton High School
Our story begins with our heroine, Andromeda, taking a job to cleanse a house of the Evil Eye, this world's take on demons. She’s been trained to survive at all costs, but her world is about to be thrown upside down, when she meets the man she is to work for, Magnus Rorschach. Her heart tells her one thing, her head another, and her instincts and magical sense another. With ghosts from both their pasts lurking around every corner, will they be able to find happiness, or will any attempt at joy be crushed by the darkness that curses the mansion to its foundation?
This story is perfect for those who love thrill and angsty romance. The suspense is maintained quite well. I was invested in Andromeda’s journey as she battles her past trauma in relation to the man who raised her, fights to cleanse the mansion, and finds herself falling in love with Magnus. The moments they share make my heart throb so hard in the best ways. Their early development is great. The romance development does drop to the side in the second half of the book. The relationship is still there, but it isn’t progressing like in the beginning. This is in exchange for a great climax where all of Andromeda’s demons, both literal and physical, have to be faced. The pacing and world building always had me fully engaged. I recommend it to older audiences (14+) as there are themes of abuse from parental figures.
Click here to check out Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.