3.5 stars, rated up

I absolutely luuuuurve a retelling, and if that retelling happens to involve smut? I’m here for it.


Okay, here’s the not great (for me) -
*daddy kink - ugh, ugh, UGH!
*bdsm - I’m just tired of reading about it
However, these were details I was aware of before choosing to read. So, I was prepared.

The not great (for me) during reading -
*if Jamsina is so sheltered (she’s never even been to a grocery store, let alone shopped for food) and kept locked up like a virtual prisoner, how exactly did she learn to get around the firewalls on her father’s computer?
*daddy kink - yeah, yeah, I knew about it beforehand, but it was jarring nonetheless
*the smut wasn’t as hot or passionate as I’d hoped for (it came across as a little stilted, imo)

Despite the not-greats and eye rolling fairly frequently, I still liked this; I found Desperate Measures to be a (mostly) fun and enjoyable read and I appreciated the author’s footnotes. Will check out the entire series.



Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the DRC

*Desperate Measures* by Katee Robert is a steamy, intense retelling that plunges you deep into a dark and twisted world of power, lust, and domination. This isn’t your typical romance—it’s a seductive ride through forbidden desires with a thrilling enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Jasmine and Jafar. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and the power play in their relationship keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What makes *Desperate Measures* stand out is how Katee Robert expertly weaves in tension, making every scene feel electric. Jafar is dark, possessive, and deliciously dangerous, while Jasmine’s transformation into a strong, fearless woman who takes control of her destiny is equally captivating. The twists in the plot add even more depth to the characters and their dangerous romance. If you're looking for an unapologetically spicy and gripping retelling, *Desperate Measures* delivers in every way—definitely a must-read for dark romance fans!

This is the series that really got me into Katee Robert - I'm so glad we're getting deluxe traditionally published versions! This is probably my least favorite of the series overall but that's just because it includes some kinks that aren't *for me*. I loved the bonus content included, especially Katee's footnotes!

Highly recommend this series particularly if you've been reading the Neon Gods/Dark Olympus series but are looking for a finished series to just speed through - these are quick and veryyyy spicy so if that's what you're looking for, look no further!

Katee Robert doing Katee Robert things with this Aladdin retelling, but the one we all truly wanted - you know the one where Jafar and Jasmine end up together. What happens when the "villain" gets the castle and the girl? Well since it is up to Katee, there are a lot of power moves both in and out of the "bedroom" or club. Bored by the every day vanilla hero winning and getting the HEA? No fear, "Desperate Measures" is here to feed all of your dark fantasies!

I love this series and this is my favorite of the bunch! The Deluxe Edition is even better than the original, because while it adds to the story with footnotes from the author that make you LOL and give insight into how this story was drafted. In addition to the footnotes, there are some amazing additional short stories at the end that really pull the story together and give us an even better "ending" to the story. Whether this is your first Katee book or you are a long-time fan you should definitely check out this Deluxe Edition that gives you just a bit more of the genius that is Katee.

Rating: 3,75 stars⭐️
Series: Wicked Villains (1)
Genre: Dark romance 🥀 

If you're interested in reading a SPICY book series based on Disney characters, you should definitely read this! 🌶️

This is a steamy romance about power, control, and forbidden desire.

In "Desperate Measures," you follow Jasmine and Jafar, reimagined as mafia-style characters in a modern setting. Jasmine, daughter of a powerful crime lord, finds herself under the protection of Jafar, her father's ruthless second-in-command. As she seeks freedom from her gilded cage, Jasmine discovers an unexpected attraction to the dangerous and alluring Jafar.

Thank you to Netgalley, Katee Robert and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

"Run, Yasmina. If you make it to the front door, I'll release you, trust fund intact."

"This woman is mine, by right and by might. Touch her, and I will rip you limb from limb."

Was it twisted? Definitely. Was it also addicting? As per usual in every single one of this author’s books, it was. A Jafar and Jasmin twisted retelling where he takes everything that belonged to her father, including her. A retelling in which they had been sharing something even before. In which her nightmares and dreams had been made of him. Of what he could do to her. The presence of characters’ illustrations made me absolutely feral for these two. And their complicated and more than a little dark dynamic was addicting in a way only a romance like this can be. Fully possessive and obsessive. Completely wrong and yet deeply right. Yasmine here is the good girl who wants to misbehave. And Jafar … he is there for her. He might want her because he knows she is his. But the truth is that he has always been hers first. And the spice … oh wow it was intense !!!! The plot was … almost nonexistent but I was there for a fun time not a long time and the book was also quite short so it felt easy to read it in one standing !!! Only now I need to drink a bit of water and also prepare … cause I desperately need book two in this series !!

“You made your choice, Yasmina. Now you have to live with it."

"Fuck, baby girl, you better be good tonight, because I'm as eager for that reward as you are."

"I truly wish I could believe that."
"You don't have to believe it, baby girl. I'll believe enough for both of us."

I love this book. And the new edition looks amazing. If you like a hot, spicy, and a little dark romance, this one is for you. Yasmina and Jafar have a delicious enemies to lovers romance that’ burns hot from the very first chapter. I love reading the annotations from Kate. It’s fun to get a “look behind the curtain” on scenes she feels are important. And the art in this book is totally stunning!

Oh my gosh I read this back in the day and loved it and I swear Katee Robert has only made me fall more in love with this story. I adore how the consent is continually make explicit so that both characters can play with consensual nonconsent. As someone who doesn't typically love dark romance, this book really worked for me because of how down bad Jafar is for Yasmina and also how carefully he kept checking in with her to make sure he was doing what she wanted. If you love a good "who touched you" moment you gotta read this book because those are basically the vibes all book. There is just enough world building to create the setting and then the characters are given the room to shine. The emotional development was so fun to witness. I loved how Katee Robert never shied from the complexity of what Yasmina is feeling. She can want freedom but also not know quite how to grasp it. She can want Jafar but also want to ensure her own autonomy. This book is deliciously sexy but it never strays far from the emotions driving these characters. In fact I'd go so far to say it's as sexy as it is BECAUSE of the attention given to the characters' emotional journeys. This is a fantastic series and I can't wait to see what else gets updated in the rest of the books!

This is my second time reading this book and upon a reread its a 4.5 star read. I truly love this retelling and always think about it. It is the perfect pallet cleanser. I fisrt read it in 2022 and gave it a 3.75 and rounded it up to a 4 star but now its really a 4.5 star read. It gave everything it needed to give. It was steamy and at the same time had an amazing plot and character development. It was so fun seeing all the illustrations and notes of the author.

Villians rule. PERIOD. This is book one in Katee Roberts Villians erotica series.

Yasmina is a QUEEN. Never would I of expected in a book that is face paced to have a character development like hers. Shes trapped like Rapunzel in the beginning but stands like a queen in the end. THE LETTER OPENER. Like come on, that was everything. Underestimated throughout the book, Yasmina made up for it in chapter 20.

Jafar, a power hungry second in command man, kills Yasminas father and stages a coup. He not only wants power but he wants Yasmina. The tension between these two is deadly but soooooo hot.

I love that Ali (Aladdin) is the bad guy. I love that even Hook, Tink, Hades and Meg are in this. I haven’t read the rest of the series but hopefully we get to see them again.

The new deluxe edition includes the authors footnotes throughout the book and I loved that touch.

I’ve read many of this authors series and I honestly think this one ranks as #1 for me solely based on the spiciness. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Warning: if you want smut this is it. But this is not a believable love story. That being said I still devoured this book and enjoyed reading it. The plot is all over the place but the spicy scenes made it worth it.

This is a must read if you love:
🥀 Disney Villians
🥀consensual nonconsent
🥀 mafia romance
🥀 spice 🥵

This was spicy. This was unique. I never thought I would be attracted to Jafar. Like omg yes. Please, so much. I am so interred to read the rest of the series. Like so much. I want more.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Second book I’ve ever read with author annotations in footnotes and I love it!!!

I hadn’t read Desperate Measures before, but booksta friends told me this special edition was Read Now on NetGalley so of course I had to come get it!

I’m not a dark romance reader, but this was such an enjoyable read!! I raced through it in one sitting, and I have no regrets.

This was the first Katee Robert book I ever read and I loved the spin on characters from Aladdin. In this version, Jafar is very very likeable. I loved this so much! This edition is going to be gorgeous with the sprayed edges and gorgeous cover. I'm excited to see if they do more of the series in this style!

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, and I did enjoy it. Katee Robert knows how to write a good spicy scene, and that is always first and foremost in her writing.

If you are looking for a fun book to just let go and get lost in a fun retelling, then this is the book for you. Check it out now.

I enjoyed this, it was a cute short retelling/imagination of Jafar and Jasmine from Aladdin. I like the idea of Disney villains' retellings. Because this is a short book I don't think there was much in-depth plot but the Aladdin story is well known so there is that. The book starts with the fmc being sold by her father and Jafar kidnapping her. There is a lot of bdsm and kinky time pretty early on as the author usually does. I really enjoyed it when the characters developed more feelings for each other and towards the end when when we saw the fmc showing her strength and being badass. This version is the deluxe edition with annotations from the author and art which was nice.
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for this arc.

I've read the entire Wicked Villains series when they were originally published and Desperate Measures was allways one of my absolute favorites! Reading this deluxe version was such a pleasure! This book is so interesting, naughty, and delightfully wicked. I love how Katee Robert can write an intricate play scene that is exciting to read and well thought out. Power play dynamics in kink can be hard to write so that they don't come off offensive, but Katee Robert executes those scenes with perfection, even including aftercare and pre-scene conversations without making spicy scenes sound cliical.

I generally prefer my books with more plot than smut, but I absolutely loved this. A hot evil Jafar and a feisty Yasmina were all I ever apparently wanted to read about. This book made me realise certain things about myself hehe.
There isn't enough plot to write a review based on that, but if you like smut with an older evil MMC and a younger innocent FMC then this is your book. Jafar has been obsessed with Yasmina since she was 20, and Balthazar's plans to sell her to Ali (a psychotic upstart) nudge him into making a move to have her for his own, and so, he kills her father and takes her for his own.
It was short, fun, and makes me want to read more of whatever this was.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks Casablanca

Honestly would read anything by Katee Robert when I’m in the mood for something spicy.
I loved her other series so much, I had to give these villian re-tellings a try 🤪
Now listen, I read these books specifically when I’m in the mood for something dark and dirty. I’m not in it for the best plot I’ve ever read - but it does help that katee always has an awesome story line with well thought out characters to move the story along.
I was totally here for the Jafar/Jasmine re-telling and it was a really fun re-telling to read. I haven’t had a Jafar one before I definitely enjoyed Katee’s view on it 🤪

Would recommend trying the new special edition coming out to anyone in the mood for something darker (but not too dark) and smutty :)

This is the steamiest Disney reimagining I’ve ever read, and I love it! It’s dark, edgy, and perfectly over-the-top. My only concern is that the ending felt different from the rest of the story. Can’t wait to read more!

"Desperate Measures" by Katee Robert left me feeling underwhelmed. While the book promises a dark and steamy retelling of the classic Aladdin story, it falls short in several areas. The emphasis is overwhelmingly on the erotic elements, which, while well-executed, overshadow any semblance of a coherent plot.

Jasmine and Jafar's characters had potential, but their development felt shallow and rushed. The power dynamics between them, intended to be thrilling and intense, often came across as forced and lacking depth. The story does touch on themes of consent and control, but it fails to explore these concepts in a meaningful way, leaving the interactions feeling more gratuitous than engaging.

The world-building and secondary plotlines are almost non-existent. I was looking for a rich narrative or a deeper dive into the characters' backstories and was disappointed. This novella feels more like a series of loosely connected scenes rather than a cohesive story.

"Desperate Measures" may appeal to readers who prioritize spice over substance, but for those seeking a well-rounded retelling with strong character development and a solid plot, this book misses the mark.