Within These Wicked Walls: the must-read Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

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The setting was little hard for me to understand, and I am honestly considering rereading this whole novel to understand it better, plus I do believe that I would appreciate the story more if I give it another go.

The book’s pace was fast, whirlwind, heart throbbing and conclusion was well wrapped up as it was expected. Well … you’re a skinny little thing,” she said, as if the fact was both important and relevant. She opened the door wider and I stepped inside the frigid castle, forcing myself not to rub my shivering arms. “Then again, the grander-looking debtera didn’t do us much good, did they?” This was such a random read for me- the cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. But i'm actually so glad I decided to read this a Exorcist. I forced myself not to roll my eyes at the word. It was vague, limited. We debtera led the worship services with hymns and chants, as well as performed all the duties of the priests, without benefiting from being ordained or esteemed. We were healers. Artisans. Trained to attune ourselves to the spirit world deeper than anyone would dare to. But, I supposed, for the purpose of my employer…“That’s correct. The exorcist.”

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Magnus, as well, was a delight. I wanted to help him as much as Andi did; he was in so much trouble when she came to him. The stakes were extremely high and time was of the essence. This supposed to be Jane Eyre retelling, and although I can see little similarity in setting (big castle) and ghost who maybe was it's version of captured wife from the Jane Eyre, I can't agree that this is retelling. Some foreign travelers called it “exotic.” Others called it “hell.” The second was accurate, heat-wise. But to look at it? Heaven. Salt and iron crusted the land in yellow and rust, making the desert look alive with magic. But even a wonder like that wasn’t enough to get travelers to pass this way, not anymore.

We spend most of our time in this castle—the curse’s impact on it creates a horror-infused atmosphere, making it a character in its own right. It’s always cold in the building despite the desert heat—so cold, in fact, that it sometimes snows inside. And the malevolent spirits inside make going out of their bedrooms after 10 p.m. a death sentence. The inhabitants—just a few servants along with Magnus and Andi—are at the mercy of the curse, and Andi starts doing what she can to cleanse each room from the Evil Eye’s influence. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules… and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice.I looked like a homely, misshapen doll. But at least I didn’t look homeless. The last thing I wanted was Mr. Rochester to know he’d pulled me directly from the street.