I have read several Katee Robert books and I have loved their writing and character development in every single one of them. I loved the main characters in this story and it was so cool to see the footnotes and art throughout the book. I love the assumed queerness with most characters and the hotness at all sizes and diversity in all facets of her characters. I will continue to read all Katee Robert books that are published in the future. The spice as always was a 10 out of 10.

Hello spicy! Who knew Jafar could be so...sexy?!? Katee Robert never disappoints with her delicious romps through debauchery. I highly enjoyed this modern retelling of Aladdin where the villain gets the girl. Great fun and SOOOO steamy!

I love the Wicked Villians series by Katee Robert! This was the first series I read by this author and was excited to revisit it with new edits, artwork, and the annotations from Katee herself. In Desperate Measures, the love story is a twist on the classic Aladdin story but our mains are Jafar and Yasmina with Aladdin as the villain. I love how the series rewrites the story through the villain’s POV and provides an alternative view. The world that Katee builds with the BDSM club is immersive and makes you want to continue the series as there are many secondary characters that are introduced. As with all Kate’s work it is very diverse, sex positive, empowering, and spicy!!

Beautiful book. The story is funny, riveting and hot. Spicy spice. Highly recommend. Katee Robert can do no wrong in my eyes. And like always with her series the background story is very interesting and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next

A spicy, Disney villain inspired retelling? Jasmine and Jafar? Say less. Desperate Measures was a good time featuring a thrilling twist, a fierce heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and plenty of steamy moments. While the plot isn't overly complex, what is there is executed well. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging, spicy read that’s easy to follow.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈

☽ captive x captor
☽ female rage
☽ BDSM
☽ bisexual heroine
☽ exploration of power dynamics

Thank you to SourceBooks Casablanca and Net Galley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I got the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Katee Robert!

Her plots, her twists, her characters, her descriptions!

The spice! Oh, good God, don't let me get started on the spice!

Ever since I watched "Aladdin", all those years back, I did have the question in my head 'What if Jasmine actually picks Jafar?'. I didn't know I could write about it!

And Katee did not disappoint!
I love her! I love her books!

Always recommend!

This was such a great Katee Robert book, and now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Desperate Measures is a dark romance/mafia AU of Aladdin. And man oh man was it spicy!

Jasmine’s father has been killed and his territory taken by Jafar. As a symbol of his new power, he also takes Jasmine and keeps her in his penthouse apartment. But while keeping her close, he also starts to grow fond of her.

This was a great story about finding your own power and taking hold of it. Jasmine’s character arc was brilliant and Jafar’s acceptance of it made the perfect ending. They are an amazing power couple.

Dirty Disney. Would love to read a series where the characters end up with the original villain. Looking forward to reading more. Extra points for having some art throughout the book and have the authors thoughts at the end.

Cannot say enough great things about Katee Robert. Her writing is always engaging, entertaining, and...so spicy. Seems that the current trope out there is the retelling of fairy tales in the writer's wheelhouse and Katee brings it. Great characters, Jasmine and Jafar burn up the pages. Make sure you read the trigger warnings, it can get a little dark but this is another great beginning to a hot series.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I generally like these villain retelling.. but this one gave me The Ick. Not for me.

Super spicy Jasmine/Jafar fanfic but elevated to a higher level as only Katee Robert can do it! KR can take very familiar characters or myths or tropes and turn them into something provocatively entertaining.

DNF 30%

I didn't enjoyed my time reading it but I didn't mind either I was going to finish it but the "Yes, Daddy" was my cue to stop.
They were cringe but I usually don't mind especially when I like the author . I've checked and it is the only book where she wrote a "dom daddy" type of relationship so I will just skip this one in the Wicked Villains series.

I really enjoyed this twist on a fairytale. I thought the dynamic between Jafar and Yasmina and how they pushed and pulled with one another but always within the safety of the parameters they set. The artwork in this edition was stunning and I loved all of Roberts’ footnotes and the little insight they gave to the story.

I was really optimistic about this one as I love Kate’s other work, but sadly I just could not get into it. I’m not sure what it was that wasn’t drawing me in this time but it just wasn’t there sadly.

An adult romance twist on the classic Aladdin story, but Yasmina is the daughter of a mob boss and Jafar is his right hand man. It's a fun and spicy book, a quick read. Very smutty, be mindful of the CWs!

I read this book two years ago and I liked it back then too, but I think the changes that have been made for this new edition, are great addition as well. Loved the art and the annotations by Katee!

Did I finish this book or did this book finish me?

This was such a fun and spicy Disney retelling of Jafar and Jasmine (Yasmina in this story) and if you are a fan of slightly more spicy than plot then this is for you. I LOVED the twist of the typical villain in the original Aladdin story being our love interest, and Aladdin being the villain himself and this was just the perfect little filler read I needed for something a bit more fun and less "thinky thinky" as you honestly just need to park your brain in neutral for this one.

I also loved the artwork throughout this edition, as well as the fun author annotations which gave a really cool insight to how some of these situations and scenarios where concocted and it definitely tickled that little book nerd brain of mine🤓

Thank you to NetGalley and Katee Robert for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This story was a Jafar and Jasmine twist on the classic Aladdin story but with Prince Ali as the villain. I really loved all the other Disney villains and characters that made appearances throughout this story. And I love that Jasmine finds her voice and confidence in this story, and she takes her life back from all the men around her who have been trying to control her. This was an empowering, fun, and spicy Disney retelling. I really enjoyed this story!
(I also couldn't pass up buying the special edition physical book with sprayed edges, a digital signature, full color art page, as well as black and white art work throughout, bonus scenes, and annotations from the author.) ❤️📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Desperate Measures, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing! If you want a dark spicy Aladdin retelling set in the modern world then this book is for you!

What if Jasmine was in love with Jafar instead? That's the question that this book sets out to answer, as well as: what if they were both ruthlessly ambitious and super kinky? Yasmina grew up as more of a possession to her (mafia??? mob????) father, and now she's being traded away like some kind of business deal. But when Jafar stages a coup of her father's business (???), she becomes his instead, and the two burn very brightly together. It is indeed hot. I like books that deal really deeply with character, and these two, especially Yasmina, had satisfying growth, and their relationship was strangely sweet.
One star deducted because what exactly is the setting? Is it a city run by mobsters? What's all this talk of territory? Are there any cops in this world? Lots of questions. I'm not a huge fan of books where the careers are vaguely illegal/mob related, but there's no other explanations.

“I’m a twenty-five-year old woman who’s never left my father’s extensive grounds. My only real-world experience centers around throwing parties and playing to expectations, allowing people to see my pretty face without concerning themselves with my mind, my ambitions, me.”
Did we all have a crush on Princess Jasmine? I’m going to go ahead and assume that the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. There’s something about her casual jewel toned clothes paired with a sassy, charismatic attitude.

Not to mention, if you’re anything like me, having a pet tiger sealed the deal.

“Desperate Measures” is the first book in the Wicked Villains series by Katee Robert. In the foreword of the new deluxe edition, they say, “This was the first book that I wrote out of spiteful joy….” and truly, they couldn’t have put it better than that. Our beloved characters outgrow the delightful hijinks of our youth and evolve to be more multifaceted and dynamic.

Black and White is out — Morally Gray is in.

Katee Robert leans in to the kinky good times
Friends, please check your trigger warnings before reading “Desperate Measures”, or really any Katee Robert book. There are a fair number of content warnings on Robert’s website, and she’s the first person to tell you to take care of yourself. I speak for myself, but I feel like most would agree, romance readers are all here for a good time. That being said, not every book needs to be for every reader, and that’s totally okay.

“He’s cruel in his gentleness, in the slow touch while he holds me in this vulgar position so effortlessly.”

“Desperate Measures” has the sexy, steamy, erotic romance that you’ve probably come to expect with a Katee Robert book. It’s also important to note that there is a decent amount of dubious consent between Yasmina and Jafar; though, as Robert points out through the annotations in the Deluxe edition, there are a lot of subtle check-ins peppered in throughout the story.

“Jafar might like playing with the darker edge of desire the same way I crave, but he always manages to check in with me. To make sure I’m right there with him. It makes me feel far safer than I have any right to.”


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Deluxe Edition Bonus Material
I don’t usually have an opinion on an original publishing vs a deluxe edition, but in the case of “Desperate Measures” I am going to strongly encourage picking up the deluxe edition that was recently released. Not only does this copy have beautiful artwork interspersed between the chapters, but it also has multiple (!!!) extra scenes at the end, and the entire book is annotated by the author.

The annotations are the best bonus of having read this deluxe edition.


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Not only are we immersed in the story, but readers are also getting insight into the author’s personal mindset at the time they were writing. Why did they write that scene? Why did they choose that POV? How did they feel about x, y, z.

I especially loved getting to read Robert’s thoughts through this retelling, because their insights shine light and perspective onto characters, ideas, and themes that I might have overlooked due to feeling a familiarity to a well-known story. I specifically love Robert’s insight into the character of Yasmina, who has amazing self-awareness and inner strength but lacks the confidence to act on it. She thrives, though, within certain framework and specific circumstances, and that allows her personal development to shine and expand in other aspects of her life.

Final Thoughts
Loved it. Recommending to everyone who loves an open door, dark romance. Especially encouraging readers to grab this if you like Disney retellings, LGBTQ spice, and/or if you ever wanted to keep a tiger as pet. This could open your eyes and introduce you to A Whole New World.