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*

I really love Greek Myth Retellings and this one did not disappoint at all.
It was very atmosphoric and gripping and the tender romance was beyond words incredible.

Thank you so much to Sarah Underwood and NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would probably round this one up to a 3.5 star rating.

I appreciate that Sarah Underwood likes to write Greek mythology retellings. This is her second - both attempt to take Greek Myths and have a sapphic element/ romance. Both have fallen into some of the same issues though.

The story follows Eirene, twin sister of Phoebe, who has caught the attention of demi-god Leandros. To save her frailer sister, Eirene takes her place as willing to wed Leandros. He tasks her with four objectives to 'ensure she will be an adeqaute wife'. This story takes from a few Greek myths, Lamia, Psyche and Eros, and Aphrodite with love and desire.

What I liked about this story was that the love story could have been between sisters. So if you read it with that in mind, it is a lovely story. Through the story, Eirene is determined to keep her sister safe and out of Leandros' way - she does everything in her power to accomplish the tasks...for her sister. This devotion and love was wonderful, and while Eirene is stubborn she is so because of her attempt to save her sister.

I liked the steady pace of the book, but if you are looking for something quicker, this might not be for you. It has a very steady cadence - Eirene gets a task... she panics, but works to accomplish the task, slight chaos... and then progression. The bigger climax might have been around discovery of what Lamia is - I will leave that out, but it was not what I expected (because I know of a lamia as another type of creature and expected something a bit different).

Some dislikes: To the same effect as above - there really wasn't a sapphic romance. There was one kiss and maybe a little swooning, but the Lamia/ Eirene relationship came off as more of sisters than romantic love. I would have prefered the focus just be on sisterly love because if you are giving me "sapphic retelling" I really hope for more than this.

I also feel like the Psyche/Eros/ Aphrodite myths got a bit jumbled in the attempt to tell this story. Eirene was set with tasks, taken from the Psyche story - but I wanted more explanation of that myth and story to build the bridge a bit more clearly. Maybe a full story telling between Eirene and Lamia could have built up more of that romantic feel between them that I was missing.

Overall, this was a likable read. I enjoyed my time with it and will continue to read Sarah Underwood's retellings. The story had a fair amount of good qualities and if you come in knowing that the sapphic romance is a bit lackluster and that the pacing is kinda of monotone, I think you will be better prepared for your read. I really like the incorporation of Greek myth, and will continue to read for that reason alone.

I found this book so incredibly enthralling - I could not put it down, I thought it was an amazing approach to Greek mythology while also focusing on the relationships and love between women while also examining beauty versus monstrosity. I'll be thinking about this book for a very long time

3.75⭐️; The Gentlest of Wild Things was such a pleasant read! The story is a gentle nod to the trials of Psyche and Eros, so if you are looking for a full retelling, you won’t find it here. I found it refreshing though, and quite enjoyed the story of Eirene and Lamia.

Oh, Lamia! How I adored her character. Her growth through the story is wonderful, and I loved the softness she carries with her throughout her journey.

I found that the book was a bit more lighthearted in nature than I anticipated, which I found myself struggling to figure out if I enjoyed this or not. For even in a moment of turmoil, the story still felt “light” and not too serious. I think in some ways it was cute or worked within the scene, but there were some moments that felt a bit awkward. There were a lot of silly little moments that were endearing, but again, not what I expected when I went into this book.

Overall I think it’s a sweet and enjoyable story. It was an easy read and had a relatively simple plot, and I mean this as a positive. I’m someone who loves highly complex worlds and characters, but sometimes it’s nice to pick up a story that doesn’t have your mind spinning.

Don’t be fooled though, the story is still rich and there are still some little surprises in store.

I really enjoyed this book! The bond between the sister and the mythology was great. I struggled to connect with the two fmc. I like both character separately. Lamia was so soft and gentle. I liked that the author didn’t info dump and create this huge world that would draw away from the overall story.