Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Steamy romantic fantasy explores colonialism in the jungle.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As WILDBLOOD opens, 18-year-old Victoria, kidnapped at age 6, serves as a guide for the Exotic Lands Touring Company, where a simple mistake in the jungle can lead to a horrific death. She's supposed to make sure another guide -- a former lover named Dean -- gets the credit for the trip's success. She's thrown for a loop when she meets the client, Laertes Thorn, who declares his romantic interest in her from the first second he sees her.
Is It Any Good?
Jamaica is an underused fantasy setting, and this complex jungle adventure sizzles. Lauren Blackwood gifts Wildblood with a strong protagonist, Victoria, and pits her against all kinds of supernatural menaces -- from river spirits to lethal butterflies. Victoria and Thorn jump right into a swoony romance, before having to make unimaginable sacrifices at the climax. All in all, an impressive second novel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wildblood presents an alternate history for Jamaica. How does Victoria, the main character, exemplify compassion, courage, and curiosity?
How did colonialism affect the Caribbean in the 1800s? How does it history shape the country today?
How people heal from sexual assault? What kinds of support are available to them?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Wednesday Books
- Publication date : February 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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