Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Body horror, Blood, Gore, Death, Child abuse (referenced), Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Graphic violence, Trauma, Childhood trauma, Suicidal ideation, Death of a parent, Bugs / insects
Within These Wicked Walls
by Lauren Blackwood
an Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling that does the gothic atmosphere right and gives you a debtera heroine you would follow into a haunted house
goodreads 3.49/5 14,764 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length336 pages
Story statusStandalone
Spice1/5 · Sweet / tender
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Forbidden love
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Low
- Sweet / tender
- The swoon
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- Dark/tortured soul
- Love/hate tension
- Tension / anticipation
- Tension finally satisfied
- Cursed
- Class difference
- Slow seduction
- Perspective shift
- Brooding prince
- Intellectual connection
- Longing glances
- Secretly soft
- Hurt/comfort
- Tension
- Mysterious stranger
- She falls first
- Anticipation
- Ear whispers / breath on neck
Fantasy promise
- Ya fantasy
- Fairytale retelling
- Manor house / estate
- Gothic
- Spirits
- Cursed love interest
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- Castle / fortress
- Low fantasy / secret magic
- Demons
- Boss/employee
- Historical
- Dark academia romance
- Rescue romance
Reading experience
- First person
- Medium
- Atmospheric
- Moderate
- General badass
- BIPOC MC
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- Lyrical
- Outcast/loner
- Black MC
- Mysterious
- Immersive
- Damaged survivor
- Black love interest (LI)
- Dark
- Warm
- Curse-breaker
- Haunting
- Character-driven
- Witch/mage
- Intense
- Eerie
- Suspenseful
- Yearning
- Magical
- Haunted castle
- Crumbling empire
- Cursed bloodline
- Forbidden desire
- Bargain with consequences
- Beauty and the Beast retelling
- Morally complex
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Book details
- Length
- 336 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book