Gentlest of Wild Things

by Sarah Underwood

On Sale: 10/01/2024

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Gentlest of Wild Things

by Sarah Underwood

On Sale: 10/01/2024

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Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

"A tapestry of mysteries, myths, and machinations, all held together by a shimmering thread of love between women." —Samantha Shannon, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

This stunning Greek mythology–inspired sapphic fantasy blends the story of Eros and Psyche with legends of the enthralling, vampiric empousa—from the New York Times bestselling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea!

Desire binds them. Hunger compels them. Love will set them free. . . .

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 descendant of the god Eros.

Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire’s thrall—until Leandros’s 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—stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood. . . .

Critical Praise

“Underwood creates a beautifully mythology-inspired tale of sapphic love and wrenching monstrosity." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

"The compelling plot explores themes of feminism, disability, and abuse in thoughtful ways, while staying true to the setting of ancient Greece. Readers will be intrigued by this Sapphic retelling featuring a strong sense of place. A creative, well-told story to satisfy fans of Greek mythology." — Kirkus Reviews

“This sophomore outing by Underwood, at once a supernatural mystery, slow-burn love story, and mythological retelling, will undoubtedly please fans of all three.” — Publishers Weekly

"Underwood weaves a tapestry of mysteries, myths and machinations, all held together by a shimmering thread of love between women" — Samantha Shannon, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

"An ensnaring mythical retelling of the courage, strength, and healing found in love and the light it lends in darkness. The women in Underwood’s works shine brightest with characters raw and bold, stubborn and soft, in an aptly-named tale that is at once wild and tender" — Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

"Exquisitely written and poignantly romantic—Gentlest of Wild Things is a hopeful exploration of beauty, monstrosity, and love." — Pascale Lacelle, New York Times bestselling author of Curious Tides

"A thoughtful, tender meditation on love and how it can shape us into better versions of ourselves, GENTLEST OF WILD THINGS is both an intricate character study and an inevitable, joyous, ultimately hopeful love story. Wondrous and healing." — Grace Li, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

"A spellbinding page-turner, Gentlest of Wild Things is a beautiful and compassionate take on the Eros and Psyche story. Underwood has a gift for breathing stunningly vivid life into characters of myth, making them three-dimensional and real. I adored every page of this beguiling book" — Vanessa Len, internationally bestselling author of Only a Monster

"A riveting bloom of a tale, thorny with female rage and petaled with tender first love." — Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind

"Atmospheric and gripping, GENTLEST OF WILD THINGS skillfully weaves together the grand scale of Greek myth with a tender, enthralling romance and an examination of beauty versus monstrosity. I couldn't put it down!" — A.B. Poranek, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Dark Stands Still

“Ferocious, dangerous, and breathtakingly tender all at once. This beautifully-written feminist tale gently sinks its teeth into you, and then holds on until the very last page. I’ll be thinking about this story and its monsters for a very long time." — Jamie Pacton, Indie bestselling author of The Absinthe Underground

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Gorgeous, tragic, and timeless, Lies We Sing to the Sea makes an age-old story feel new again. This is Greek tragedy at its best: sweeping in scope yet deeply intimate in characterization. This book will break your heart and you’ll be grateful for it.” — Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Sarah Underwood’s classical reimagining is woven with pure magic: salt-laced myths, a plot that slowly unravels like a tapestry, and vivid characters who are destined to steal your heart. A scintillating, beautiful debut.” — Rebecca Ross, internationally bestselling author of Divine Rivals

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Lies We Sing to the Sea is a lyrical, elegant debut bursting with imagination and heart. Underwood expertly weaves a tale about the inevitability of fate—and the love that makes us rail against it anyway. Bittersweet and wholly cathartic.” — Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: "Sarah Underwood gives a brave, ferocious voice to a character who richly deserves one. Filled with knife-sharp banter, smoldering romance, and twists that will tear your heart to pieces, this is the story about one of Penelope's doomed maids that was always waiting to be told. " — Heather Walter, author of the Malice duology

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Prepare to be utterly wrecked by this brilliant, lyrical, queer, feminist af book. Lies We Sing to the Sea grabbed my heart from the first pages and I couldn't put it down. Utterly breathtaking. I loved it.” — Jamie Pacton, author of The Vermillion Emporium

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Rich, immersive and utterly compelling. A stunning achievement from Gen Z’s answer to Madeline Miller” — Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “A wondrous tale of love, death, and sacrifice. The vivid characters give depth and adventure to a story with roots in classic Greek mythology.” — Natasha Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of Skin of the Sea

PRAISE FOR LIES WE SING TO THE SEA: “Overflowing with emotion and full of magic.” — Jennifer Saint, internationally bestselling author of Ariadne