Gentlest of Wild Things

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

'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 Bestselling Author of Portrait of a Thief

'A delightful reworking of myth with a Sapphic romance at its core. Gentlest of Wild Things is a beautiful celebration of the reparative power of love.’ – Bea Fitzgerald, Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl,Goddess,Queen

'Underwood weaves a tapestry of mysteries, myths and machinations, all held together by a shimmering thread of love between women' – Samantha Shannon, 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

“Brimming with mystery, myth and tenderness” – CultureFly, 8 of the best new books to read this month

About the Author

Sarah Underwood grew up in Devon, England. She obtained her MEng in Computational Bioengineering at Imperial College, London, and has recently graduated with an MPhil in Population Health Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Lies We Sing to the Sea, her debut novel, was a NYT bestseller. Gentlest of Wild Things is her second novel.