I received an eARC of Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood from Netgalley and HarperTeen. We follow two characters Eirene and Lamia as they navigate towards either other and against Leandros who has been using a magical potion called Desire(s) to force women into romantic relationships with men they would not otherwise be with in the village of Zakynthos. Eirene sacrifices herself to become Leandros bride-to-be so her twin sister Phoebe doesn’t have to, and Lamia is trapped under the draconian regime of her father disguised as love and protection. 

The book has been described as retelling of Psyche and Eros with a sapphic twist. As someone who is a weak for Greek Mythology and sapphic romances this book was sublime. Eirene and Lamia are captivating throughout the story as a well done slow burn relationship. Lamia’s character development was the one I was most invested in because everything she had known was being challenged. Leandros was minacious as the antagonist, and some parts were darker and more gruesome than I expected out of the book description. I was enthralled with the book and the character relationships that this was probably one of the quickest books I have finished this year. 5/5 stars. 

Thank you Netgalley and HarperTeen for the eARC of Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood.