Gentlest of Wild Things

When his 18-year-old wife Alexandra dies, Leandros—a powerful magnate and descendent of Aphrodite and Eros—announces his intent to marry Phoebe, a 16-year-old who’s “plagued by a recurrent fever.” Phoebe’s twin sister, headstrong herbalist Eirene, persuades Leandros to marry her instead; she is determined to uncover more about Alexandra’s fate and how Leandros concocts his Desires—which the wealthy men of the ancient Greek town of Zakynthos use to make women fall in love with them—so she can stop him once and for all. But to prove her devotion to him, Eirene must complete four grueling tasks. She finds an unlikely ally in Leandros’s teenage daughter Lamia, who experiences chronic pain and whose mysterious magical powers Leandros exploits. As Eirene and Lamia unearth the secrets behind the Desires and Alexandra’s death, they develop a friendship that deepens into romance. This sophomore outing by Underwood (Lies We Sing to the Sea), at once a supernatural mystery, slow-burn love story, and mythological retelling, will undoubtedly please fans of all three. Lamia’s character arc is especially compelling, as her burgeoning self-confidence, empowered by her bond with Eirene, allows her to grow beyond her father’s influence. Eirene and Phoebe are described as having light brown skin; other characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Catherine Cho, Paper Literary. (Oct.)

Correction: The text of this review has been updated for clarity.