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. 

This could have been exceptional. It just fell short on many major plot points. Unexpectedly, the side characters held the most intrigue to me. I only just finished this and I feel like I've forgotten most of what happened or maybe just not that much did happen? 

It was beautifully well written, and the concept had all the foundations to be unforgettable. If an extra 200-300 pages of world building where added, that explored all the possibilities that this just skimmed over that would have made a book I would want to read over and over again.

Enchanting, hypnotic and atmospheric, this is a tale you can get lost in, the writing is utterly enthralling however at the same time it's also very slow. When I say its hypnotic I mean it in a way that it makes you want to drift off to sleep and have a very vivid colourful dreams... Not stay awake and keep reading to all hours of the night (for the first two thirds at least). 

I did have to go back and re-read a number of chapters in order to fully understand what was going on. I'm not sure if that's was due to the multiple POV's being so different in how they where written? I only seemed to struggle in Yejide chapters, and more from a perspective that I wasn't sure if what she was detailing was truth, a tale once told or her imagination... 

Its a beautiful exploration into death, and beliefs, and how in making your own path in life you can be at conflict with yourself and those around you. The romance was subtle and felt more like two people trying to find the balance and doing what is right without loosing themselves in the process. 

What the actual dick fest.
 
Disappointment in this series is an understatement. I felt like I just read Netflix ‘Too Hot To Handle’ but with wings and only one constant female house mate. All the other females in this book only seem to make guest appearances, but that doesn’t prevent us from getting a continual onslaught of knowing just how good their legs, hair, eyes and body are, and how the males would like to sample the goods. Don’t get me wrong love that show, when I feel like watching brain numbing trash… also love smutty romance. But when I’m reading eight hundred pages of what is supposed to be an epic fantasy, I kind of expect a decent, well-constructed plot on top of that.
 
I nearly really like some of side characters in this book, but none of them where ever given enough depth. Everything was so surface, even moments of ‘vulnerability’ in this book felt weak and shallow.
 
The entire plot that didn’t even really exist, ended up just fizzling out into nothing fifty chapters in. The plot that developed in what the last 100 pages? Actually, sounds interesting, however the revelation of this plot wasn’t a great twist or shock. Just a massive just a kick in the gut that we wasted so much time to get to it. It frustrates me that the next book might actually be worth reading, since there may now be some characters that have depth that ‘may’ come into play. I find it hard to envision such characters within the same space as the ones in this though.
 
Honestly S.J.M does have a way of pulling her books back from the pits in the final quarter. And to be fair I could rate this three starts overall, but I can’t possibly, given how sexualized every female was. [ The breaking point was when the triplet fire sprites where revealed, there was no coming back after that, how they were sexualized just killed it for me.
 
 
One final note… How many powerful people f*ck in a closest at an important event when everyone in attendance has a keen sense of smell/hearing... sorry? 

“I didn’t say I liked it, Harry. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference.”

And the Picture Of Dorian Grey Fascinated me indeed.
Was it as great as I hoped, no. Did I like it? Not really. Did come away from this with a flurry of quotes and new insight, yes absolutely. 

Did it deep drive into philosophical motives of men in this class and time period, the reflection of your inner soul, and both the debate of external beauty vs internal corruption, absolutely. 

This book brought into a modern context in a much longer novel along with a deeper insight into the varying characters and their lives is a book I would love to get behind.