I don’t know what to say except that I was fated to like this book.
Greek retelling?
Beautiful cover?
Sapphic love story?
Sign me up. Take my soul. Give it to me.
I worship at the altar of Sarah Underwood, thanking her endlessly for writing books for the greek history enthusiast gays. We’ve won, guys.
We’ve won.

Plot Summary:

Eirene, a young woman from Zakynthos, has only ever wanted to protect her twin sister, Phoebe. But when Leandros, a man supposedly descended from Aphrodite and Eros themselves, sets his sights on her, Eirene finds herself striking a bargain with the dangerous man. Complete four tasks and her sister will be safe from his clutches. Meanwhile, Lamia is the daughter of Leandros, with a power that is used to craft a threatening mixture called Desire. When Eirene and Lamia meet, fate has plans for them they never could have dreamed of.
Will they successfully thwart Leandros and protect Phoebe? Or have they already been doomed from the start?

Plot Review:

First of all, the plot is based on the story Eros and Psyche with empousa, dangerous drugs called Desires, and sapphic main characters thrown in.
What a delicious mixture.
Everything about this book sounds amazing.
But!
At times the story was a bit boring plot-wise. We have Eirene and Lamia working together to solve these four tasks, yet nothing else really happens. We don’t see much of the world except Leandros’ house and, well, Hades at one point.
And while the tasks are certainly difficult, they don’t drag us far beyond what we have already seen of Zakynthos. What I love about Greek myths and retellings are the worlds created and explained on the pages. There’s nothing I love more than diving into a world filled with gods, badass empousa, and amazing mythological creatures.
Unfortunately, this book didn’t do much for me in that department.
What really saved this story was the romance. I usually don’t enjoy a book based solely on romance𑁋Okay, maybe I’m lying to appear like I have more depth than just being a lovesick sapphic eating up gay books because she’s lonely, but let’s just pretend I’m telling the truth𑁋but this was truly an exception!
However, that’s not to say that the plot was completely lackluster. I enjoyed the scenes with the ram because it actually gave me an interesting mythical beast to focus on.
Everything else… Well, this could have included some more high-stakes tasks to spice the story up a bit, but, thankfully, the romance kept me hooked!

Characters:

If there’s one thing I love more than Greek myth retellings, it’s cute sapphics being adorable and in-love with each other.
And if there’s something I love more than that, it’s well-rounded and unique main characters.
Gentlest of Wild Things gave me all of this, thankfully.
Eirene and Lamia were such unique characters with their own defining thoughts, feelings, and reactions.
Eirene, out of both of them, is probably my favorite. She’s fiercely loyal and determined with no thoughts for her own wellbeing. All she wants is for her sister to be safe from Leandros. She’s so selfless, yet also deeply caring. Even when something important and life-altering is revealed about Lamia, Eirene doesn’t change her mind about her.
Speaking of Lamia.
She’s such a gentle soul. In most cases, I would find her naive and gullible for trusting Leandros so easily, but it was truly because she wanted to believe in the best of him. And isn’t that the sweetest thing? But, when it comes down to it, she protects Eirene with everything she has.
And have I mentioned how much I relate to her? The way she talks about women… I mean, I feel you, Lamia. Like, we would get along great just admiring women and fan-girling over Eirene.
It’s just…
I just truly love them both!
Moving on to side characters…
Uhm…
What side characters? Phoebe? Pieros? Damon?
I don’t think there was nearly enough page time for any of them. Phoebe is the reason Eirene is involved with Leandros, yet not much is mentioned about her. And Pieros? Honestly, I was really hoping he would have some kind of character arc. He seemed like the character most likely to experience one.
But, well, it never came.
And the villain? Leandros?
A self-centered, abusive, and egocentric, attention hog.
Eirene constantly calls him a monster, but I swear it would have been so easy to stab him in the gut with her knife. He got close to her constantly, invading her space, without holding her arms back. She could have easily killed him at any moment.
But I guess then we wouldn’t have a very interesting story, so…

Overall Thoughts:

Lacking some interesting plot-lines, but brimming with sapphic yearning. Honestly, that’s all I really need in a book.

Gentlest of the Wild Things is a Greek myth reimagining that blends the trials of Psyche and Eros and the myth of Lamia.

Shining star of the story is the character development of main characters Eirene and Lamia. Eirene is the rebellious, determined and self sacrificial heroine who would do anything for her twin sister, even marry evil town resident/descendant of Greek god Eros, Leandros. Lamia is a broken, timid and sheltered woman hidden away by her evil father. The character journey that Eirene and Lamia go on is what makes this story so gripping, nuanced and tender.

I found the four obstacles to be very entertaining and exciting. They helped expand and add color to the Greek inspired world. I loved all the mythical beasts, especially Daphne. I loved the sibling relationship between Eirene and her sister. Finally Lamia’s completed character arc was satisfying to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this e-arc. I would recommend this book to fantasy readers that enjoy Greek retellings, trials and obstacle based stories, strong female main characters and sapphic romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for allowing me to read this book!

It was better, I think, than Lies We Sing to the Sea, but the sapphic romance felt just as underdeveloped. It seemed as if they both saw each other, decided she was pretty, spent time away, and then came back with attraction solidly in place-- if even that. (Unfortunately as someone who had disliked Lies, the nods, references, and it being a linked continuation to the previous book felt more annoying than a little gift) There's been statements of how vague the setting felt from other reviewers I agree with.
There were also a few references i thought too heavy-handed, such as the lamp oil spilling on the protagonists shoulder to wake her from her sleep, which... was exactly Pysche and Eros. Who are said to exist here. And the one spilling the oil being a descendent of Eros (also of Psyche? it isn't mentioned)
It was also annoying to me that the first task stayed the same.... except our protagonist is so special and great she's able to to most of it, all by herself, by hand. I think I also might have enjoyed for the empousai "twist" to not be in the way that it was, with the person being unaware, as it felt it took away some complexity that might have made the characters more interesting. It's totally fine she killed the other girl in the half-horror first chapter, she didn't know!

I think, however, even with the concerns that were not to my taste, my students would enjoy this, as it is fast-paced enough that it can keep their interest.

3.5 rounded down because so much of the setting and atmosphere heavy lifting is being done by the reader's familiarity with Greek mythology and while I overall liked it, I didn't quite buy the romance between Eirene and Lamia.

I did really appreciate that this isn't a retelling or continuation of any specific myth but rather just playing in the sandbox of Greek mythology and the concepts of demigods and immortals. This does mean that the setting is flimsy - I didn't get a good sense of any of the places other than when Eirene was sent on a task, and you're constantly at task for remembering things like the original parameters of Psyche and Eros' tale - but in the end, it mostly works.

Eirene and Lamia felt much more like friends than love interests, the first people they could each truly confide in and learn to lean on in so long, especially in Lamia's case - it made the romance aspect feel like it was just because the story wanted them to be in love that they were. That said, as a story of female friendships and breaking free of expectations and restrictions, it stands really well in that case, I'm just disappointed that once again, the sapphic relationship in Underwood's book is so under-developed.

Rating: 5 Stars
Grade: A+

I got this book as a free ARC from NetGalley, so I had not read Sarah Underwood's other book, and I didn't have any expectations for this book, so I was just blown out of the water at how good this was.
Eirene's twin sister, Phoebe, is being eyed by Leandros to be his next wife - and the problem is, there is something predatory about him and Desires he sells, which make women blank-eyed and obedient. Rather than let him talk Phoebe, Eirene agrees to complete 4 tasks for Leandros, and in exchange, he will marry Eirene instead. Once in his house, she meets his daughter Lamia, and the two begin to suspect things aren't quite what they seem...
The beginning was a bit slow for me, I found it hard to get past the hopeless of the village, but once there? Bam, off to the races. Eirene's quest with her four tasks with engaging. I also really enjoyed the development of her relationship with Lamia - it felt natural under their circumstances. I was able to guess bits and pieces of what was happening, but only just enough that the reveals felt exciting and I felt clever, which is the perfect balance in my opinion.

I unfortunately had to DNF this at around the 30% mark, not for any particular reason but just that for some reason I could not get invested in this story. I think the beginning of this book really captured me, but once the main portion of the novel and the interaction of the two main characters began, my attention began to flag. There isn’t anything wrong with this story, and with how many positive reviews it has I really wanted to like this, but I think this just wasn’t for me. I know this book takes a lot of inspiration from Psyche and Eros, but without much happening in the story with Eirene trying to save her sister, and Lamia not being the most interesting character, I realized I was reading to finish the book and not to find out what happens next. There are enough hints at the larger story to give me an insight of everything going on, but as of now I’m simply not interested enough to continue.

I think this book would be great for anyone who likes slow-building Greek-myth inspired romantasy, and I encourage you to check it out. I think my biggest issue is I found neither Eirene nor Lamia that interesting of a character, and the villain Leandros was the one I wanted to know most about. I think in the future I’d like to come back to this book with a clearer idea of the story, and actually find out and crack the mystery that has been hinted at with what I’ve read so far.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Gentlest of Wild Things” is a stunningly beautiful novel combining two different stories from Greek mythology: that of Eros and Psyche (one of my favorites) and that of Lamia (with which I’m less familiar). Eirene and her twin sister Phoebe toil ceaselessly to support themselves and their (useless) cousin Stavros, but Eirene increasingly takes on more burdens as Phoebe’s health declines. When Leandros, descendant of Aphrodite and wealthiest man in town, seeks Phoebe as his next wife (after the suspicious death of the previous one), Eirene takes her place. She is on a mission: to understand how Leandros crafts his Desires, magical substances that he sells to men that keep their wives “happy” and obedient. Eirene seeks to destroy the secret to Leandros’s success and free the women in town from the substances that keep them subservient. Leandros is obsessed with his legacy, and before he will accept Eirene in place of her sister, he requires her to repeat the four tasks Aphrodite ordered Psyche to complete in order to prove her love for Eros. These impossible tasks should be impossible for Eirene, but fortunately, she has help from Leandros’s reclusive daughter Lamia.
This book was so gorgeous and so compelling. Taking place on the isolated island of Zakynthos, there is little external worldbuilding, but we don’t really need it. The mythology of the Olympians is pervasive throughout, but every beat of the story is contained within a small village, and much of it just within Leandros’s house. I loved the blend of fantasy with elements of psychological thriller, and how the story explored abusive relationships and the sacrifices the characters made for their loved ones. Beautiful sibling relationships, sapphic romance, and female rage? Plus gorgeous writing and atmospheric suspense? Yes please!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!
4 ⭐️s

The Gentlest of Wild Things is a Young Adult fantasy novel presented as a sapphic reimagining of the legend of Eros and Psyche. "On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire―love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros." (From the book's blurb.) The novel follows Eirene, a young girl who strikes a bargain with Leandros to save her sister from becoming his wife: if Eirene can complete four impossible tasks, he will wed her instead. The story also follows Lamia, Leandros' abused and isolated daughter, whose magical tears are responsible for the creation of Desire. Entranced by Eirene, Lamia agrees to aid the girl in her tasks, even if it means lying to her father. But as the two grow closer, freedom begins to feel impossible, and it soon becomes clear that Leandros is not the worst danger lurking in the tower, hungry for blood.

This book was a great romp of a time! It has all the ingredients of the perfect romantasy: adventure, danger, and pining. The sapphic love story was so, so sweet, and I loved the way the two girls interacted and cared for one another. It is definitely a slow burn, which is a favourite of mine (but go in prepared). Underwood also plays with themes of feminine rage through the vehicle of female monstrousness, which will be an evergreen trope for me.

The main reason this was not five stars for me was that I struggled to connect with the two main characters in the first half. I loved them by the end, but it took a minute on that front for me.

Overall though, this book was a great time, and I would definitely recommend it! The Greek mythology was accessible even to those not familiar with it, and the plot was fast-paced and engaging. Add this to your TBR!

Once again another stellar book by Sarah Underwood. This book was so good! The romance was so sweet and I love the way that the author reimagined this classic Greek myth. It was so beautifully written and I was enthralled the entire time that I was reading! I will forever be a fan of Sarah Underwood's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was honestly so sweet & heart-warming - not only was the romance very touching, but also the love between the two sisters.
The pacing was good throughout - the format of the tasks kept things interesting, though I wish the solutions to them had been more about cleverness and creativity, rather than magic, because Eirene was such a determined and bright character. I appreciated the slow burn of the main relationship as it mirrored Lamia’s personal growth & discovery. Eirene & Lamia really were perfect for each other! Their love was very tender but they still had good chemistry and banter, with the perfect cozy happily ever after.

Sarah Underwood has a gift of writing deeply emotional books that are, somehow, also loads of fun. GENTLEST OF WILD THINGS is a beautifully feral tale that I can’t recommend enough!!

DNF @ 12%
I am not going to lie, I'm currently coming down from the high of a Percy Jackson/Riordanverse complete read through. I definitely expected more of the Percy Jackson vibes and while I don't actually think the book was bad, my expectation ruined my reading experience.
It didn't feel like a retelling, but more of a story simply set in Ancient Greece, using names and bits and pieces of the mythological universe to create its own story.
I think if I read this book at another time, I could and would enjoy the tale.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I continue to like this writers work, particularly creating stories inspired by myth without feeling too much like a structured retelling. The characters are interesting and this book in particular is inspired by a myth I don’t know well which made it more fun to follow the plot.
That being said, and not unlike some other YA work, the romance felt a bit awkward and forced to me and could use some development if it’s meant to be a big part of the plot.

This book was excellent! And served to reaffirm that this author is an auto buy for me. The story, the relationship between the MCs, the twists, and the stakes made this a delightful read that I would recommend to anyone.

Thank you to Harper Collin’s Frenzy Team and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Underwood’s creative liberties excel when they’re purposefully distanced from what is widely understood and accepted as a loose canon of Green mythology. Why Wild Things largely works here more so than her debut is because the story is constructed in *relation* to this myth as an inspiration, rather than derived as an event whose stakes rely on the logics of the original story.

Across Underwood’s releases, Wild Things really solidified the fact that personally, her characters are one of the standout aspects of her stories. Each character, though they feel like cartoonish personality archetypes at times, feel distinct in a way that aligns completely with the kinds of characters I enjoy reading and subsequently serves to distinguish this story as an Ancient Greek mythology-inspired novel. This additionally extends to her love interests and I find that the way the main character and the love interest are established really compliment one another:

Eirene, for example, is determined, passionate, stubborn, blunt but caring, a bit harsh but loves with all her heart.

Lamia on the other hand is naive, sheltered, compassionate, selfless, brave and gentle.

This would make for a really compelling romance if it wasn’t for the clumsy establishment of said romance. As a reader, I don’t quite understand what each character see romantically in the other besides attractive appearances. Of course, sometimes that is all it takes but I think the awkward veer into romance territory right off the bat really undercuts this possibility.

This was the same problem I had with her first novel and honestly, we very much suffer from the same weak writing points present in her debut. For example, the pacing does flounder a bit in the last third of the book as we suddenly lean heavily into the perspective of one character. Furthermore, I still think setting is one of the weakest points of Underwood’s writing. There is really little to distinguish this world as one rooted in Ancient Greece and combined with the anachronistic dialogue, it feels like this story at times could be situated anywhere in the Mediterranean in almost any time period.

However, I still very much enjoyed myself with Wild Things and I’m honestly looking forward to seeing what Underwood writes next and whether she ventures outside of the Anicent Greek mythology setting (which I think could be a great opportunity of growth for her!)

another YA sapphic greek mythology inspired fantasy masterpiece from Sarah Underwood. I actually liked this one more than lies we sing to the sea. It's loosely based on eros and psyche, most closely following the four trials/task aspect. I was less familiar with this myth so I didn't know where things were going at the start, though everything slowly came together. I really liked the romance and overall story arc!

Underwood has done it again, Such spectacularly crafted characters with a devastating story to match. Expected perfection and got beautiful prose and everything else I wanted!

I read the author’s first book (LIES WE SING TO THE SEA), another Greek myth inspired queer fantasy. However, I feel their sophomore book plays it too safe, and unfortunately, I DNF’d at 47% with no interest in skimming to the end. (I am a BIG myth fan so this was a surprise even to me). Personally, the book did not fully deliver on its promises. The main draw - mythic allusions and an ancient Greek setting – felt thin in execution. The queer love story was confusing as I was never quite sure if we were to view both love interests as teens or one as a teen and one an adult (given the role she plays in the family unit). Those who struggle with multiple POVs may certainly struggle with these. Nonetheless, this book felt YA appropriate and is likely perfect for younger teens who love Greek myth.

The story begins on the island of Zakynthos, where Desire, a potent force distilled from love, is bottled and sold by Leandros, a descendant of the god Eros. Leandros has his eyes set on Phoebe. Her sister Eirene will do anything to keep him from getting her. She tries to trick Leandros by posing as her sister to get him to marry her instead of Phoebe. When Leandro figured out the deception, he struck a deal with Eirene to complete four tasks. If she can complete the tasks, she can finally keep Phoebe out of Leandro's grasp forever. Eirene quickly learns the tasks are impossible until Leandro's daughter, Lamia, comes to her aid.

This book is about the lengths you would go to to protect the ones you love. Eirene is determined to save her sister. She is a brave and selfless character who uses her wit and grit to uncover Leandro's secrets and the trouble he has caused since he arrived on the island. Phoebe is sweet, sickly, and naive to what fate awaits her if she must go through with the marriage to Leandro. Eirene feels like she is Phoebe's protector and decides to sacrifice to prevent any harm to her sister. The male characters are brutes, slimy, and self-serving. Lamia has been locked away under her father's stifling rules. Lamia and Eirene form a bond that could break the oppressive forces and give them the freedom they desire.

I absolutely love mythology retellings. Like most of us in school, the stories tend to be one-sided and focused on the male characters. Books like this allow us to see what could have been the narrative of the women at that time. I thought this was a sweet, loving story with adventure and magic. It resonated with me on multiple levels and expressed the truths about human nature and the power of love.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Book, HarperCollins.

Love a Greek mythology retelling ESPECIALLY one that hasn't been over done. This was a fun twist! Thank you for the e arc!