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 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.

Blissfully naughty and spicy read that pulls you to that in and makes you fall in love with the villain… couldn’t put it down and highly recommend!!

Mind blown.

Let me just say...MIND-BLOWN!!! It sucks you in! There were some parts that's totally out of my comfort zone, but I need to know what happens next so I kept on reading. It didn't disappoint! It's such an amazing idea to make the villains the anti-hero! I love this concept. Great idea Katee!!! ⁣
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"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭. 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴."⁣
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Jasmine is obviously a submissive in the relationship. She's always caged in and always underestimated. She's tired of being the pawn. As the story goes on, you see Jasmine getting on her own feet. Changing her future. I love how she challenges Jafar every turn. HOT Jafar! Lol He's all Dom, dirty, and intriguing! You really don't know what he's going to do. Throughout the whole book you'll realize that he always gives her an out. He wouldn't do anything that Jasmine doesn't want. They're legit explosive together! enemies to lovers. They've been attracted to one another for years, but didn't do anything.⁣
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I'm looking forward to the other characters stories.

Katee Robert cannot miss. Literally, they just cannot.

I don't know what else to say about Katee than you just need to read everything they've written.

I've read every single book by Katee (including the monster romance which isn't even my jam) and I've loved everything, the Dark Olympus series being my favorite. But the fairytale spinoffs are so great too. How can anyone like Jafar in a romance novel after having watched the movies? Katee can make you!

This isn't quite what I thought it would be. I thought there would be more of a balance of dark romance, smut, and plot but there wasn't. It was mostly smut. I listened via audiobook. I could easily listen at 2x speed so it went by quickly. I did not enjoy Jafar's narrator voice nor did I enjoy the overuse of the word "daddy".
I am not sure if I will read more in the series or maybe I'll go into it knowing it may be mostly smut. I do still want to read Neon Gods by the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy

What I’ve always loved about Katee Robert and her writing is the ability to make so much happen in such a small amount of time. Despite the low page count, the story is a wild rollercoaster, and while very smutty, delivers some excellent dynamics on the goings-on of Carver City with a fabulous plot twist at the end. This entire series is over-the-top, fun, and oh so salacious in the very best way. Aladdin has always been one of my favorite Disney movies, and I really loved the kinky, dark romance, mafia twist.

The spice in this book is top tier! Jasmine's submissiveness takes center stage for most of the book though she redeems herself towards the end. However, I wish we could've seen her personality and strength come out more. Jafar, on the other hand, was a mid MMC, but if you like daddy kink, this book is for you.

You will no longer be kept in a cage. Yasmina can’t believe that she is a prisoner to another man. She hoped that one day that she would be free but another man has taken her freedom. Jafar knows that he needs to put Yasmina in her place she belongs to him now and he will own every part of her. But will their dance lead to what they both want? A good read. Hot & steamy. Does have some triggers that could upset some readers.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

This book will always be a 10/10 for me, it's everything you could ever dream of wrapped in a pretty little bow

"Caged birds always crave the sky, Jafar. You'd do well to remember that."

This book is iconic! A Jafar and Jasmine retelling where Aladdin is the villain?? YES PLEASE. Not only was this book so spicy, it also had a pretty good plot which I really enjoyed. Jafar was next-level hot and I loved how Jasmine was so defiant and ready to fight for what she wanted, love a heroine with a backbone.

Absolutely ate this book up. I absolutely love retellings and this one will be one of my favorites. Aladdin was my favorite Disney movie growing up and I loved seeing this villain retelling.

The story was really a lot of fun. This is a quick read and the pacing is great. I loved that this was a retelling of Aladdin, but in this book Aladdin was not a good guy. Jafar wasn’t the best guy either, but he was a moral grey character and provided a lot of pleasure to Jasmine. This book is smut, with that I mean the sex scenes were more apparent than the plot, but plot is still there.

Loved it. Cannot wait to continue this series.

Katee Robert takes classic characters and spins them into an intense, seductive reimagining that’s definitely not your average bedtime story. The chemistry between Jasmine and Jafar is fiery and full of complex tension, giving the story a fresh, forbidden feel.

While this is a fun escape for fans of dark romance, it might be a little over-the-top for some, and not your cup of tea for others but if you’re here for a steamy, page-turning adventure in a twisted world, this one is worth diving into!