An absolutely beautiful story. Underwood has a gift for retelling myths in a way that manages to be both a tribute to the original and something entirely new.

it’s safe to say sarah underwood’s writing is not for me. gentlest of wild things didn’t leave me fuming the way lies we sing to the sea did, but i was still disappointed by the juvenile, one-dimensional storytelling.

inspired by the myths of eros and psyche and the empusa, GOWT centers on a girl willing to do anything to protect her sister and the mysterious daughter of the man who rules their island. when leandros sets his sights on eirene’s twin sister as his next bride, eirene offers to take her place. he accepts, on the condition that she complete four tasks—but her tasks are complicated by her growing bond with leandros’ daughter, lamia.

i liked the concept; eros and psyche and the empusa are both underutilized myths in the sea of greek mythology retellings. i also appreciated the sisterly bond between eirene and phoebe, although i didn’t love the way eirene infantilized her twin.

my biggest issue with GOWT is that i just don’t care for the way underwood handles greek mythology. there’s something very heavy-handed and r/im14andthisisdeep about the way she approaches her retellings. the villains are cartoonishly evil, a famously fickle goddess assists the MCs, and everything is wrapped up a little too tidily to be believable.

someone wake me up when we get a sapphic greek mythology retelling that lives up to the hype.

This sapphic Psyche and Eros retelling had a lot of potential to be amazing, but the pacing was slow enough that I kept losing interest and had to reread parts when I came back to it to make sure I remembered what was happening when I picked it back up to continue. That said, I love Sarah Underwood's writing style and am always willing to pick up another of her books.

Sixteen-year-old Eirene and her twin, Phoebe, who have light brown skin and curly black hair, live in Zakynthos. It is a town controlled by Leandros, a descendant of Eros. Women there are manipulated by Leandros’ Desires, magic that seemingly brainwashes them into being under their husbands’ control. After Alexandra, Leandros’ 18-year-old wife, dies suddenly and mysteriously. What caused her to die? Leandros decides to marry beautiful Phoebe, wooing her with lavish gifts. When Stavros, the sisters’ cousin and guardian, agrees to the match. Eirene, is determined to save her sister from Alexandra’s fate. She makes a deal with Leandros: If she can complete four tasks that he sets, she’ll marry him in her sister’s place. If she fails, he’ll take Phoebe as his wife. Unbeknownst to Eirene, Leandros has a daughter, pale, redheaded Lamia, who’s been hidden from the world. Her left leg never fully healed from an accident and affects her mobility. A connection quickly blossoms between the two girls as Lamia helps Eirene with the increasingly difficult tasks. As they complete each one, Eirene and Lamia get closer to discovering the mysteries of Leandros and his powers.

The author writes a creative novel of Greek mythology. The plot explores themes of feminism, disability, and abuse in thoughtful ways, while staying true to the setting of ancient Greece. I was iintrigued by this Sapphic retelling. the myth of Eros and Psyche as the underpinning of her sapphic romance novel (including dashes of adventure and body horror) set in ancient Greece. (The myth of Eros and Psyche is one of the best love stories in Greek mythology.).

I didn't finish this so I can't say much. But the writing style just wasn't my cup of tea. Very fairytale.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A story sparked from Greek-mythology with sapphic romance and fantasy??? Ma’am, sign me up. Immediately.

I do want to start off by saying I love when siblings are close and will do anything for each other. I have a similar closeness with mine, and I love seeing it reflected in literature. Eirene will do anything for her sister, Phoebe, including taking her place as Leandros’s wife in order to save her from that fate.

Eirene must pass four tasks from him, in order for him to agree to said bargain that are quite impossible to do alone. Until… She meets Lamia who is the daughter of Leandros. As Lamia helps Eirene complete her tasks, the two of them begin to form a bond that is mixed with longing and love. I enjoyed reading their relationship building as well as their separate character developments. They would go to great lengths for each other, even as far as the underworld.

CW: child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, blood, violence, self-harm, murder, misogyny, injury/injury detail

FINALLY a Psyche and Eros retelling - I’m so over Hades and Persephone - it’s been done! It’s time for Cupid and Psycheto have their time to shine.

It’s interesting to me that this author continues to set her stories in their original classical time period then not stick to the story at all. I recognize that it is a retelling, which comes with a certain amount of creative choices, but this is nothing like the original source material. It seems like maybe her work would read better if she changed either the time period or the geographical location? Otherwise the tone is a bit weird. It is also missing the lyrical prose I expect from a Greek myth retelling that is set in its original classical time period.

Nevertheless, In my opinion, this is a step up from Sarah Underwood’s debut. The characters are likable and complex and I really loved their slow burn romance. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't 100% know if this was supposed to be a romance, thriller, or horror book but regardless it was decently well written and a very interesting take.

I really enjoyed reading this sapphic retelling of psyche and Eros. Character development was dramatic, but in a good way! The plot felt a little bit telegraphed but I didn’t mind since I was already pretty familiar with the original tale!

The men of this story were let off way too easy. I support women enacting their revenge and this could've had a lot more of it. Women support women's wrongs and the only wrongness here, beyond the vanquishing of the main villain, was the lack of comeuppance.

Beyond some of that disappointment, though, in THE GENTLEST OF WILD THINGS you'll find sisterly bonds and sacrifice. And a monster who becomes the hero.

That said, having come to the end of this, the best character really was Lamia. Eirene, I have to say, started to wane on me after a fairly strong start and is definitely why I ended up rounding down on this one. But Lamia.. she stole the show and my heart and she deserves everything good. I wish the romance had been given more time to breathe because while I understood it from Lamia's side, Eirene had no reason to be so taken so fast considering her circumstances and also she was very inconstant about it.

But hey, if you are into the Greek retelling craze and you also want something sapphic, this might be the read for you.

2.5 stars

I’m a huge fan of Greek myths, so this was right up my alley. It was a retelling of Lamia with the trials of Eros and Phyche also blended in. It was written beautifully and I definitely recommend. I never wanted to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Underwood's novel, "Gentlest of Wild Things," harnessed the power of mythological storytelling reimagined for a contemporary audience. The book delves into the ancient Greek myth of Eros and Psyche, but with a twist that infuses the narrative with a modern sensibility about love, desire, and the human condition.

Set against the backdrop of Zakynthos, a place where the concept of Desire is commodified, the story unfolds with Eirene and Phoebe, twin sisters whose bond is tested by the machinations of Leandros, a descendant of Eros. The novel explores the complexities of love—not as an abstract concept but as a tangible, powerful force that drives the characters to extremes.

Underwood's prose is a blend of lyrical beauty and dark intrigue, capturing the essence of a world where love can be both a blessing and a curse. The character of Lamia, Leandros' daughter, is particularly compelling, embodying the conflict between the longing for freedom and the dangers it entails.

While the pacing may occasionally slow, the overall narrative is a mesmerizing experience, "Gentlest of Wild Things" is a captivating novel that challenges the reader to consider the price of love, and the sacrifices made in its name. It's a journey through a landscape where myth meets reality, and where the stakes are life itself. Critics have praised the novel for its exploration of themes such as feminism, disability, and abuse, all woven into a rich tapestry of mythological retelling. For those who appreciate tales with profound emotional stakes and powerful female characters, Sarah Underwood's novel is a captivating read that lingers long after the last page is turned.

This was absolutely beautiful. I'm a sucker for greek mythology so I was already a little biased going into this, but it blew my expectations out of the water!

Eirene has always been her frail sister, Pheobe's, protector - and she is forced to step up once again as the slimy Leandros has it in his mind that Pheobe is to be his next wife. Leandors strikes a deal with Eirene - if she is able to pass the 4 tasks he sets for her, then he will leave her and Pheobe alone. However, a wrench is thrown in Eirene's plans when she mets Leandors daughter, Lamia. This is a retelling of the Eros & Psyche myth, and I really liked the parallels between Eirene/Lamia and Eros/Psyche.

I loved the development of the relationship between Eirene & Lamia, and their struggles with Leandros really highlight the beauty vs monster thing going on. I also didn't see the twist coming until right before it was revealed, but again - really powerful way of highlighting the beauty vs monstrosity theming Underwood has throughout. It's soft and tender when it needs to be, and is poignant about the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.

I will definitely read another book by Sarah Underwood!
Thank you to Sarah, NetGalley, & HarperCollins Publishing for the eARC, I would love to be considered for another!This was absolutely beautiful. I'm a sucker for greek mythology so I was already a little biased going into this, but it blew my expectations out of the water!

Eirene has always been her frail sister, Pheobe's, protector - and she is forced to step up once again as the slimy Leandros has it in his mind that Pheobe is to be his next wife. Leandors strikes a deal with Eirene - if she is able to pass the 4 tasks he sets for her, then he will leave her and Pheobe alone. However, a wrench is thrown in Eirene's plans when she mets Leandors daughter, Lamia. This is a retelling of the Eros & Psyche myth, and I really liked the parallels between Eirene/Lamia and Eros/Psyche.

I loved the development of the relationship between Eirene & Lamia, and their struggles with Leandros really highlight the beauty vs monster thing going on. I also didn't see the twist coming until right before it was revealed, but again - really powerful way of highlighting the beauty vs monstrosity theming Underwood has throughout. It's soft and tender when it needs to be, and is poignant about the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.

I will definitely read another book by Sarah Underwood!
Thank you to Sarah, NetGalley, & HarperCollins Publishing for the eARC, I would love to be considered for another!

Greek retelling + sapphic = sign me up!! And that Samantha Shannon loved it - even more of a reason for me to read it!
I loved this take on the myth of Psyche and Eros. The pacing was a bit slow, but it was overall enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!

A beautifully written sapphic love story loosely based on Greek mythology. Perfect for fans of Madeleine Miller. A clean mythological fantasy for young adults.

I had such high hopes for this book and was kind of let down. I didn’t find it all that amazing like the author’s other works. I did enjoy it enough but found myself bored at times.

The peace of a small island is shattered as a man who claims to be the descendant of Eros starts to sell Desire, with girls suddenly falling in love with men, docile as a dove. Everything is taken from Eirene by Leandros, the maker of said potion. Her friends are under the influence of Desire, her cousin is losing money at the party of Leandros, and now he is planning to make her sick but beautiful twin sister Phoebe as his wife. For the best, she decides to volunteer to be Leandros’s wife to earn time. To be his wife, she has to pass four tests which seems to be impossible. Help comes from the most unexpected source...but can Eirene trust her? In this twisted world, who is the real monster?

Eirene seems to be the main character who leads the story in the first of the book, but slowly, the focus of the story starts to shift towards Lamia. In the end, the main focus of the story is the growth and illumination of Lamia. I enjoyed the sapphic Eros and Psyche mythology setting and the twists of the story, but considering how Eirene treated Lamia, and that they actually did not have a former connection, it was hard to understand why these two fell in love with each other. But under the assumption that they are in love, the rest of the story makes sense. I was not hooked at the beginning, but I was totally immersed in the latter parts. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review

In Gentlest of Wild Things, I found myself captivated initially by the lush setting of Zakynthos and the intriguing concept of Desire being bottled and sold. The premise hinted at a rich exploration of mythological themes and sisterly bonds, which seemed promising. However, the pacing soon felt uneven, with Eirene's tasks lacking the intensity or stakes needed to keep my interest fully engaged. The dynamic between Eirene, Phoebe, and Leandros hinted at depth, but it didn’t evolve enough to feel compelling. Additionally, Lamia’s storyline, while intriguing, felt sidelined and somewhat underdeveloped, leaving the sense that her potential was missed.

Ultimately, while the themes and setting were intriguing, the narrative lacked a gripping progression, making it difficult to stay invested.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!

This is a young adult fantasy inspired by Greek mythology, with a sapphic romance at its center. I think my expectations were a bit too high, but I appreciate that this book exists all the same.

A sapphic Greek mythology inspired story that blends in Eros and Psyche with the legend of the vampiric empousa. Eirene and her beloved twin Phoebe live on the island of Zakynthos and have tried their hardest to avoid the prying eyes of Leandros, a power hungry descendant of the god Eros who has his sight on making Phoebe his next bride... only 2 days after his wife mysteriously died. Eirene will do anything to make sure her sister is not forced into this marriage... even marry Leandros herself but he demands she complete four tasks he set before her or he will take her sister as his bride instead of her. Yet the tasks get more impossible with each one and Eirene finds herself being helped by Lamia, the strange and neglected daughter of Leandros, whom he keeps locked up. Lamia and Eirene grow closer but Leandros's secrets might threaten to destroy them both and if Eirene cannot find a way to save herself and her sister, her romance with Lamia might never make it. This was definitely a unique sapphic greek mythology story and while it had some promising elements it just didn't exactly wow me in the way I was hoping it would. Its by no means a bad book, in fact its a fairly light and easy read, it just didn't particularly stand out to me. I think that this would be an enjoyable read for YA readers looking for a light sapphic romance read with a touch of Greek mythology in it. It's a light romance and the story felt a bit younger. It's an easy read and goes by at a slow pace. It's one that I think readers will enjoy if you like soft romances and adventure.

Release Date: October 1,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*