Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah is a phenomenal read that masterfully blends the epic scale of Greek mythology with a tender, intimate romance. The story also explores the powerful theme of beauty versus monstrosity, creating a narrative that's both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The characters and their journey are captivating, and the romance is beautifully written. I couldn't put it down! A must-read for fans of mythology and deeply emotional storytelling.

Trigger Warnings: Emotional and physical abuse by a parent.

*A HUGE thanks to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.*

As soon as I saw the cover and the blurb for Gentlest of Wild Things, a sapphic Ancient Greece story, I yearned to read it! I’m so delighted HarperCollins Canada offered me an e-ARC of this book, iiiiiiiihhhhhh!!! It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I am proud to bring you this review! :D

Do you want to know why I’m so thrilled about Gentlest of Wild Things?

Read on, loves!

The Positive Points:
What a thrilling beginning chapter! I wasn’t expecting that chase. The prologue is confusing, but in a thrilling “I need to know MORE” kind of way. Honestly, the more I kept reading, the faster I read it and I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. I was so enraptured by this book! Another great thing was how the gods were mentioned in expressions such as “Damn her principles to Hades and back”, and other times Eirene thinks about the gods and how she works and none has ever helped. Like, they’re here and alive, but she only believes in them and doesn’t know they’re real. Like it’s a hint to us, readers. About what’s to come and how the story is more supernatural than we think at first.

As for the characters themselves, I must say that both Eirene and Lamia are loveable in their own ways. Their first meeting was explosively dramatic, emotional, and fun as a ready. I wasn’t expecting that to go this awry! It was different from the usual “I like you already” or “love at first meeting” that is prevalent in so many stories it’s become bland. Eirene is so cute and protective, I love her! She is the strong determined sister to protect her sister Phoebe, weaker in health and in a bad situation. On a side note, I love how each girl has a passion. For Eirene, it’s plants and herbs. For Phoebe, it’s weaving. And for Lamia, it’s drawing. It’s more realistic and it’s nice to see they have something, a hobby, to hold onto, something they love. Lamia is such a cutie! Poor her though, she is so ignorant of the world and abused for the villain’s own riches. She was brainwashed into thinking what her father was doing was good… I love her, she is so kind-hearted and caring, and, poor her, innocent, too! What Lamia has as a special gift, I thought it was just so beautiful and poetic, and well handled throughout the story, with an evolution tied to the character’s arc. Wow! Her character arc is where she becomes more assured and grounded in reality. It was beautiful to see! And the fact that Lamia tried so much to save and help Eirene even if it meant she might run away… Awwwwwww, my FEELS! Plus, there is some closure I wasn’t expecting for one aspect of Lamia’s life later on which echoes the very first chapter. What a great thing to weave into the story!

As for the villain, wow, he’s very dangerous just like I thought before we actually met him. Even with Lamia, his own daughter! He emanates shrewdness, danger, and violence. He is so cruel and abusive, both with Lamia and Eirene, mostly with words, and threats, and mean tricks and lies, but also with physical violence and manipulation. I’m sure he’s a beast—at least, to me.

Speaking of Eirene and Lamia, the sapphic romance is sweet and easy to follow. I love how Eirene is rebellious with boys and wishes not to marry, while Lamia is all compliments and admiration for Eirene. Great ways to show them being sapphic before getting to know each other and falling in love. It’s innate even though they don’t know what it is or means. Their little attraction and romance is so cute. It’s soft and sweet by moments, throughout the big problematic mess they’re in. It’s also really sweet how their affection grows naturally and you can notice it through thoughts, awkward touches, and words like “Our Lamia” when Eirene is proud, and more. For example, it is romantic and soft and sensual per moments with them discovering they desire each other. Like how being close to the other feels, and wishing she would just lean over and kiss her… I also let let out a gasp when I learned that Eirene’s goal is in direct conflict with Lamia herself and her affection and love for her. Ouch! You’ll see! The longing was real, I was so waiting for them to get together, iiiiiiihhhhhh! It was very satisfying! This is a story of love (in many shapes), and also of a void of loneliness being filled by someone you come to love.

Fun fact: I didn’t know wrapping a bandage could be so sensual and romantic, but wow, it is, and it’s beautiful.

Awwww, I love when FMCs cut their own hair. I did it twice too for the unease I felt with my long hair and I was at a time where I couldn’t pay for a haircut, so I tried to cut my hair and felt thrilled and wild. And it wasn’t so bad. I love when the FMC feels the same and tries the same thing. It’s also an act of rebellion and to seek wellness in one’s body.

Oh, and I love how Eirene discovers the source of Desire. I have been waiting for their two storylines to merge like this for the intrigue to have its answer. The “how” took me by surprise because I wasn’t waiting for it anymore. Fun!

Gentlest of Wild Things is a clever retelling in ancient times of Psyche and Eros, but make it sapphic. It’s lovely and magical. It’s also a strong “do it yourself” story, which I always love.

Every one of Eirene’s task was fun and exciting, but the last one was the most thrilling and exciting, and full of magic and mythology. What a retelling, and what turn it took! I noticed, like I mentioned earlier, that Lamia underwent the most changes in her arc. Eireine’s is more subtle, yet still there.

This story respects mythology, like the path to Hades not being for mortal eyes, and more. Also, same respect with the time period, like with men acting out the plays.

Lastly, this is a doubtlessly a story of women who stand up to men who abused them in more ways than one. It’s powerful. As for the conclusion itself, it was veeeery satisfying and had me feeling all warm and fuzzy and giddy, rocking my legs and smiling.

The Negative Points:
Hm, let’s skip this, shall we? None was to be found, whatsoever. The writing, the character development, the intrigue, everything was great!

In Conclusion:
All in all, Gentlest of Wild Things was excellent to the end! It is a feminist, and cutely romantic sapphic tale! And the villain gets what he deserves… Mythology was well mixed with magic and romance as well, it was so nice! I give Gentlest of Wild Things a rating of 5 amphoras out of 5, because it was such a great read and sweet from the beginning to the end with strong emotions, thrills, and a soft romance. I loved all of it! Honestly, I would take a dozen more books like this one!!

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.