Passion, protection, empowerment. Oh, how I loved this. Going in I was very hesitant since so recently doing a re-read of Song of Achilles, uncertain in reading the same names again and the completely new light that they would be shone in. And although Katee Roberts takes great liberty when writing these (and knowing this going in) I try to tend not think of the series as modern retellings. The background and strong charter traits are carried through, and then adapted and molded to create empowered feminine tales. Breaking free from the worst aspects of the original mythology. And Wicked Beauty delivered, not mad at all about the romance between Helen, Patroclus and Achilles. It was actually so much more than I expected it to be, far more intermate and deep than surface level attraction. I will say Wicked Beauty is defiantly the most fiery of the series yet, two warriors and nothing short of a goddess, to be expected. 

Katee Robert approaches topics of mental abuse, healing, trauma, feminine empowerment, self-doubt and inner belief along with acceptance of all people and all their desires. And does it so dam well, I greatly apricate how all these extremely important topics were approached in this, and handled. To have a character that has been mentally abused in a previous relationship and skillfully lean into how to ask permission, to support and to show protection and kindness towards that character, brilliant. 

Aside from the ‘romance’ aspect of the novel the mythology came from the Trojan War there had to have somewhat of a battle. The feel was very much a softer version of the Hunger Games. The ‘battle/fights’ took up a relatively small portion of the book, and as much as I love reading a good fight play out, it is at the end of the day a romance series and I found the balance perfect. Wouldn’t have been mad but if this was 100-200 pages longer and all those challenges were added too however. 

 

Only negative, I felt like we constantly re-visited the same inner thoughts/turmoil of each character when we re-entered their chapters, it did get repetitive like the same conversation being had over and over. But the pacing moved along at a fast enough to not ruin the book.