ARC Review of Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
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A thrilling twist to a fairytale we know where the villan gets the girl, and the damsell becomes a woman with power...even when in the bedroom she is ready for his pleasure.

Yasmina is no longer under the controlling thumb of her father forcing her into a horrid marriage, but she is now under the control of Jafar. A man she does not want to admit that she desires, and he is not subtle in his wantings of her either. She's his. There is no room to argue.
She went from one cage to another, and this little bird desires her freedom more than anything.
From the penthouse views to the Underworld, Jafar introduces Yasmina to pleasure she has nver known, locking her in and keeping her as his. Safe and sound.
Only, what happens when this little bird escapes him?

Very delicious and naughty. Our princess fights for her freedom but also succumbs to her darkest desires and needs, with lover and friend. Some familiar names pop up and take part in this fantastic dark twisted romance filled with kinks and pleasure. Great little slips of artwork as well!
5 stars!

It is a twist on Aladdin, where Jaffar gets Jasmin instead of Aladdin. This is a very steamy book written incredibly well. I would say it is 70% steam and 30% plot. This book is an excellent slump-buster for the romance reader. It's hard to review this book without giving too much away, but if you want a steamy, he falls first book, this is the one for you!

A saucy take on a villain and princess...

Truth be told, Jafar in the Disney Aladdin movies never did it for me.
However, this saucy take on Jafar, the villain, well, I'm just seeing him in a Whole New Light.
This Jafar is dominant (but good with consent, cuz consent is foxy) and invested in pushing Jasmine's limits and she is only to happy to embrace her submissive side. Jasmine, the princess, is conflicted but down for the dark side.

Desperate Measures is hot as a desert and steamier than being rolled up in a magical rug.
Highly recommend. Word of warning, this is not a Disney version, this is a Katee Robert version.
You've been warned.

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert is a steamy, dark, and wildly unconventional romance that reimagines the classic Disney characters Jasmine and Jafar in ways you could never have expected. If you're looking for a light retelling, this isn’t it—this is an intense and kinky story that dives deep into the dynamics of power, control, and desire.

Jafar is dark, dominating, and dangerous, while Jasmine is independent, fierce, and surprisingly willing to explore her need for submission. The chemistry between them is electric, and their relationship, though unconventional, is one that keeps you hooked from the start. The author does a great job of creating a world where their desires, particularly around the "daddy" and "baby girl" dynamic, feel both believable and central to the plot. If that kink isn’t for you, this book might not be a good fit, but for those who enjoy exploring the edgier side of romance, it delivers in spades.

What really stood out to me was Jasmine’s development as a character. You might expect her to become reliant on Jafar given the intensity of their relationship, but she consistently pushes back, asserting her autonomy in ways that surprised me. Jafar, while domineering, recognizes the importance of her freedom, which adds a layer of complexity to their relationship. Their back-and-forth, both emotionally and sexually, was captivating, though I would have loved more of their history, especially the five years of tension they mention but never fully explore. It felt like a missed opportunity to add depth to their already compelling dynamic.

The book doesn’t shy away from explicit scenes, and they are well-written, with an emphasis on consent throughout. Jafar encourages Jasmine to embrace her desires, never forcing her into anything that makes her uncomfortable, which is refreshing in a story this intense.

While the pacing did feel rushed toward the end, and I wished there had been more build-up to their attraction, the book still delivered a wildly entertaining, sexy, and unconventional romance. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series. If you're ready for a read that will turn your childhood memories upside down and you're comfortable with darker themes, Desperate Measures is worth picking up.

There's nothing quite like a good retelling and Katee Robert does this dark telling of Jasmine and Jafar SO. WELL. The spice was top tier and the story was a fresh take on a classic. Desperate Measures is a story that I will absolutely read again and recommend!

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I never knew how much I needed dark Disney stories before reading desperate measures. Now I can't live without them. Katee Roberts manages to not only mix a beautiful story with spice but she does it in a way that is so elegant. It doesn't feel like a erotic novel like many people are forced to believe. They have a world that is so much more and a story that is so much more.

5⭐️ 4🌶️
- MF
- CNC
- Primal
- Spicy Club
- Daddy Dom/Brat
- Group Play

I think this is my favorite Katee Robert book. I don’t remember if this was my first book by her but it is certainly the most memorable to me. So this rerelease was the perfect excuse for a reread. I think I might have enjoyed it even more this time around.

This book is spicy! And while I don’t think this book was particularly dark, it is certainly intense and those CW/TW should be heeded.

I loved this twist on a familiar fairytale. And while Jafar certainly isn’t a prince he isn’t the worst villain in the book. He falls firmly into the category of a morally grey MMC. But while he may be brutal and cruel to others he is such a softie for Yasmina.

I loved Yasmina. She had so much hidden strength and I loved watching her become more confident and powerful.

I really enjoyed the bonus content in the release. There was some stunning art and Katee’s annotations were fun and added a little something extra to this reread.

One of my favorite things I’ve overheard in a bookstore was one shopper hand selling a Katee Robert book to another shopper by saying, “they are a chaos peddler of joy and smut!” No lies detected. Katee Robert’s books are fun. They are a good time and they don’t make me feel bad about enjoying them because Robert is intentional in their writing. Desperate Measures, the first in Robert’s Wicked Villains series is being rereleased with a change to the main character’s name, lots of footnotes, and some artwork. I didn’t appreciate it when I first read it, I think Desperate Measures was the first Katee Robert book I read, but it’s the book where they really let themselves off the leash.

“This was the first book that I wrote out of spiteful joy, incorporating all the things I loved but that 2018 traditional publishing told me I couldn’t do and be successful.”

Yasmina’s father has undervalued her and essentially sold her to Ali in a strategic marriage. Jafar, her father’s second in command, has over thrown her father and claims Yasmina as his prize. But first, he asks for her safe word. Desperate Measures is filled with consensual non-consent, some light daddy kink, and power struggle fought partly through sex. Robert is one of the authors I point to when I talk about moving plot and character development forward through sex scenes.

I love hanging out in the worlds that Katee Robert writes. I really enjoyed the footnotes at the end of every chapter. If you haven’t read any of Robert’s books yet, this is a great place to start. If you have, this is a good edition to have on your shelf.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I love the concept of the Jafar being the good guy, and Aladin being the villain! It was a fun, sexy read!

"Out there, I’ll be your right hand.”
“Yes.”
“In here?”
"In here, I am your baby girl.”

“Spread your thighs, and let Daddy give you a kiss.”

This book was so spicy!!! I am finally diving into the world of fairytale retellings where the villains are the heroes! This is the first book in Katee Roberts’s Wicked Retelling series and I can’t wait to read more books in this series! We read in the beginning about Yelena getting taken prisoner by Jafar, her father‘s right hand man. I loved that while Jafar wanted Yelena, he still made sure that he got consent from her. These steamy scenes were the best part in this book! I wouldn’t expect so many deep conversations between the characters since this book focuses more on the open door scenes. I found the scenes where Elena and Jafar shared with Meg super hot! I’m looking forward to reading her story as I want to know more about her as a character.

Read if you like:
Fairytale retelling
Villain hero
Prisoner heroine
Sex club
Virgin heroine
Daddy kink
MFF scenes
Open door romance
Hero falls first

If y'all were attracted to Jafar in Aladdin especially during THAT scene (iykyk and if you're like me, YOU KNOW!), then this one is for you.

This book is great at the quick and dirty. It gets you there fast and the spice was scandalous in all the right places. Katee as usual knows what she is writing and does it dang well.

The storyline was good and the pacing was quick and kept my attention. This book was incredibly fun and perfect for Disney adults who want to get a little bit dirty.

I absolutely loved Desperate Measures when it originally released and was so excited to see that it was getting a deluxe edition! Yasmina (Jasmine) has always lived in a golden cage. When her father’s man Jafar stages a coup, the owner of her cage changes hands. But Jafar wants Yasmina and the games they play are incredibly satisfying to them both. When a dark threat tries to steal Yasmina away, will their bond be strong enough?

I love how Katee Robert poses the questions of what if Jasmine was interested in Jafar instead and what if Ali (Aladdin) is not the hero that we think we know. I also love how queer this entire series is and it starts here with Yasmina and Jafar. Queerness and villains have been intertwined before, but Katee takes it to an incredible level of steamy romance. Katee masterfully writes about the power exchange between them, the importance of consent, and how Jafar stops everything at Yasmina’s safe word. The romance between Yasmina and Jafar is explosive, spicy, and satisfying. The politics and world-building of Carver City are fascinating and readers meet characters who will feature in later books in the Wicked Villains series.

The deluxe edition includes beautiful new artwork, annotations from Katee, and several bonus short stories. Katee’s annotations are excellent and provide additional insight into the story and their writing process. I loved this return to the story that started it all and can’t wait to see future deluxe editions (because who doesn't love a villain written by Katee Robert!).

Thank you to Katee Robert, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Katee Robert’s smutty books are the perfect palate cleanser books/pull you out of a book slump. However, be sure to check content warnings: ⚠️

This AU Jasmine (Yasmina) and Jafar with mafia vibes. Jafar is a baddie but Aladdin (Ali) is worse. There are other Disney villains involved and a Hades who has a sex club while running the Underworld. However, it’s not our Hades from Neon Gods!

I enjoyed the art work and footnotes on the recent release, but I hope the physical book has the footnotes at the end of page bc the e-book had them at the end of the chapters so I had to jog my memory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary dark romance
-consensual nonconsent
-daddykink
-forced proximity
-hate that I want you
-one hates the other pines
-disney retelling with a twist

This series was my gateway into becoming Katee Robert obsessed and that it is not only getting special editions but the annotations that are a peak into Katee's head. I love this book just as much on reread, if not more and to see all the little easter eggs of Katee's of not just this book but others and really the beginning of all things kinky and queer. The hints at Sabine Valley (My fingers are still crossed at its revival). Whether this is the first time picking up this delicious twist on a Disney favorite or a reread, it's a must have. I love this book and series with my whole heart.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this eARC! I have read this book twice before in its previous iteration and it still hits every single time. This time even HARDER! Yasmina and Jafar's chemistry is so remarkably insane from the JUMP and it never ever lets up for even a second. This was the first Katee Robert book I ever read so getting to pick it back up and get these special footnote and updates and epilogues was so overwhelmingly fun. Yasmina is such a strong character who goes through such a beautiful transformation and Jafar is the perfect villian who is just GONE on his woman. I can't wait to hold the physical pretty copy in my hands this is such a special book in such a special series.

Review for Deluxe edition

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert is for all the romance lovers who still love fairytale but in the dark and spicy version! A twisted take on Aladdin in the package of dark organised crime romance, Desperate Measures delivers sin and passion and love and suspense in a beautiful way.


I will be honest here..if I didn't get the deluxe edition as eARC from Netgalley that contained all the bonus material and artwork and author Notes..The rating would be 3.5. This edition stands out due to the unique look into the author's mind and the seductive art and the bonus materials those just enhanced the story.

So we are in a modern day city and we are watching different organized crime players fighting for power.Yasmina has been kept in a metaphorical cage by her father and she wanted freedom. But now her father's associate Jafar has killed her father and claimed the kingdom and the princess before she could be sold to Ali, another evil man. The thing is Yasmina always wanted him even when it is forbidden. Like Jafar.But can she stay in another golden cage?

This book is high on kink and smut. No wonder it became booktok sensation because it can be really shocking and enticing at the same time. The queer part with FF. The sharing. Pure BDSM dynamics. It's one of the dirtiest books I have read. And that's something because I have read some real filthy ones. Yasmina managed to win over her fears and I love how she rescued herself at the end to claim the kingdom. Jafar had a plan but his obsession and possessiveness for Yasmina derailed everything. Now it's an interesting chemistry. Yasmina feels shame and regret for wanting the man who is keeping her under his control. But she is also insanely attracted to him and his darkness because Jafar also pushes her and gives her space in a weird way. The dichotomy is sexy and angsty.

I just feel while sex is the power of this book, it also became the weakness as it shadowed the emotional parts.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the copy

4 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 5 🎧

I forgot how much I loved Jasmine before this re-read! She is such a baddie and I loved how she came alive in the end.

The spice was really good. This is a MF romance but we do get a FFM scene with Meg and it's pretty fantastic. The primal play is also on point.

The audio was fantastic. I just love Lessa Lamb and Jack Calihan was great too.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC

A sexy and delicious retelling of Aladdin with Jasmin and Jafar as the main couple. This is for all the girlies who wanted the villain.

This book is everything you’d want in a dark, steamy romance. The dynamic between Jafar and Yasmina is intense from start to finish. The tension and power struggle are written so well, and the chemistry between them is through the roof. It’s definitely a book that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

What makes this edition even better is the bonus content—author annotations, extra scenes, and even a kink inventory. It adds depth to the reading experience and makes it feel like you’re getting something really special.

If you enjoy dark romance with high stakes and plenty of heat, this is a must-have. It’s bold, captivating, and absolutely worth adding to your collection.

This series by Katee Robert is addicting and familiar and just a good steamy read. Based on popular Disney stories, this is a twist on the tales we know and love. I read this several years ago but enjoyed the reread so much. This edition has art and has footnotes with Robert's thoughts about the story and her thoughts when writing. It added some depth to this fun retelling.