Gentlest of Wild Things

A stunning fantasy romance, inspired by Greek mythology.

?'A dazzlingly imaginative sapphic reimagining of the Cupid and Psyche story' The Guardian

On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire—love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros.

Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire's thrall. Until Leandros' wife dies mysteriously and he sets his sights on Phoebe. Determined to keep her sister safe, Eirene strikes a bargain with Leandros: if she can complete the four elaborate tasks he sets her, he will find another bride. But it soon becomes clear that the tasks are part of something bigger; something related to Desire and Lamia, the strange, neglected daughter Leandros keeps locked away.

Lamia knows her father hides her for her own protection, though as she and Eirene grow closer, she finds herself longing for the outside world. But the price of freedom is high, and with something deadly—something hungry—stalkingthe night, that price must be paid in blood . . .

In Gentlest of Wild Things, Sarah Underwood explores ancient civilizations through the lens of fables and legends. This historical fiction, with its LGBTQ+ themes and teenage protagonists, is a captivating journey into the myths of the past.

For fans of Jennifer Saint (Hera), Ava Reid (A Study in Drowning), Madeline Miller (Galatea), Hannah Lynn (Forever Love at Wildflower Lock), and Bea Fitzgerald (Girl, Goddess, Queen).

HarperCollins 2024