Gentlest of Wild Things is the story of a sister who will do anything to save her twin. In a small village, Eirene and her sister Phoebe live with their awful cousin. When Phoebe catches the eye of a mysterious and powerful man on the island, Eirene refuses to allow Phoebe to be stolen away. There’s something strange about Leandros, especially the circumstances under which his last wife died. To take Phoebe’s place, Eirene must complete four impossible tasks. Can she save her sister? 

Gentlest of Wildest Things is a sapphic retelling of the myth of Eros and Psyche, with the inclusion of empousa. This was so well done! The story was tightly paced and hard to put down. I really enjoyed  the exploration of what it means to be a monster, especially in ancient tales. I loved when Eirene and Lamia had to team up to complete the tasks. The storytelling uses well-known aspects of the tale, while including completely original ideas. The empousa storyline was fascinating and I wish more retellings included them.  

Readers who enjoy Greek mythology retellings, sapphic romance, and an unbreakable sisterhood will enjoy Gentlest of Wild Things. 

Thank you to Sarah Underwood, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.