Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review:
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
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―stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood . . .
Review:
I would probably round this one up to a 3.5 star rating.
I appreciate that Sarah Underwood likes to write Greek mythology retellings. This is her second - both attempt to take Greek Myths and have a sapphic element/ romance. Both have fallen into some of the same issues though.
The story follows Eirene, twin sister of Phoebe, who has caught the attention of demi-god Leandros. To save her frailer sister, Eirene takes her place as willing to wed Leandros. He tasks her with four objectives to 'ensure she will be an adeqaute wife'. This story takes from a few Greek myths, Lamia, Psyche and Eros, and Aphrodite with love and desire.
What I liked about this story was that the love story could have been between sisters. So if you read it with that in mind, it is a lovely story. Through the story, Eirene is determined to keep her sister safe and out of Leandros' way - she does everything in her power to accomplish the tasks...for her sister. This devotion and love was wonderful, and while Eirene is stubborn she is so because of her attempt to save her sister.
I liked the steady pace of the book, but if you are looking for something quicker, this might not be for you. It has a very steady cadence - Eirene gets a task... she panics, but works to accomplish the task, slight chaos... and then progression. The bigger climax might have been around discovery of what Lamia is - I will leave that out, but it was not what I expected (because I know of a lamia as another type of creature and expected something a bit different).
Some dislikes: To the same effect as above - there really wasn't a sapphic romance. There was one kiss and maybe a little swooning, but the Lamia/ Eirene relationship came off as more of sisters than romantic love. I would have prefered the focus just be on sisterly love because if you are giving me "sapphic retelling" I really hope for more than this.
I also feel like the Psyche/Eros/ Aphrodite myths got a bit jumbled in the attempt to tell this story. Eirene was set with tasks, taken from the Psyche story - but I wanted more explanation of that myth and story to build the bridge a bit more clearly. Maybe a full story telling between Eirene and Lamia could have built up more of that romantic feel between them that I was missing.
Overall, this was a likable read. I enjoyed my time with it and will continue to read Sarah Underwood's retellings. The story had a fair amount of good qualities and if you come in knowing that the sapphic romance is a bit lackluster and that the pacing is kinda of monotone, I think you will be better prepared for your read. I really like the incorporation of Greek myth, and will continue to read for that reason alone.
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