When the capricious and vein gods crafted Pandora - the first human woman to grace the earth - they made her for one very simple purpose: to love and be loved in return by her new husband, the titan Epimatheos. Nothing more, nothing less. The gods love their games, and one would be foolish to ever question the logic of those capable of not only creating, but also ending life itself…. The biggest issue with their plan? Epimatheos wants absolutely nothing to do with her. Bewildered, hurt, confused, Pandora struggles to fit into her new life, to find a place in which she belongs if her husband isn’t playing along with the gods latest distraction. What’s the point of being given all these gifts so kindly by the gods if Pandora cannot get this infuriating, very rude(Not to mention VERY good looking) man to love her? Maybe she should look beyond the fate given to her. Maybe she has a very different trajectory, one that could spell doom for all of humanity…. Pandora will need to use all of her gifts should she wish to at least be on speaking terms with her husband, and over time the pair could even begin to understand each other a little, as it seems the gods aren’t so beloved by all as she once so naively believed and she can use this to her advantage, if she’s smart enough of course and as long as she doesn’t draw the attention of a certain womanising, self-proclaimed king of the gods…. A glorious reimagining of the myth of Pandora, the author yet again showcases her excellent talents of storytelling to keep you both entertained and obsessed!

I say I'm done with Greek myth retellings and then Bea Fitzgerald brings out another book and I fall in love all over again. Pandora was such a good story to put her own spin on - these characters who are so well known only for their fall, it feels so simultaneously wrapped up in the myth we all know and also so uniquely Fitzgerald's own story. Pandora has quickly become one of my favourite female protagonists I've read in a long time. Seeing her hopefulness and devotion wielded in such a strong and positive way feels so rare and I treasured every second on the page with her. Her relationship with Matheos was also endearing to watch develop, their bickering banter filling the pages with humour. Long may Bea's Greek myth retellings continue!

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology and thought this book brought a very fresh take to the story of Pandora. This is a reimagining from her pov. We see as Pandora is created, told her purpose and then left to get on with it. She struggles to find herself and tries to differentiate what is her own personality and what is the result of the gods. I love the fact she’s a curvy girl and the different representation in the book. It goes on to talk about how cruel and horrible the gods treat humanity and Pandora wants to help the humans but doesn’t know how. The story is well paced and I thought the romance was as well. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like fantasy and Greek myth retellings. Bea Fitzgerald has such a magical way of taking such well known stories and creating wonderful books that keep you wanting more. Her other books are definitely a must read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc copy.

The undisputed queen of feminist YA, Bea Fitzgerald has once again delivered a myth retelling that is sure to become an instant classic. A Beautiful Evil tells the story of Pandora, who comprises a mere footnote in Greek mythology. In Fitzgerald’s capable hands, Pandora’s story becomes not just the story of a young girl, but a broader explanation of the inconsistencies in the stories we have inherited. As ever, Fitzgerald’s characters are inclusive. In A Beautiful Evil, Fitzgerald crafts neurodiverse characters, most notably an ASD Pandora. As an autistic author, Fitzgerald is well placed to represent an autistic woman’s experience. As the mother of an autistic daughter, I really valued Pandora’s perspective. I also loved the relationship between Matheos and Pandora, which is a wonderful example for YA readers! I could go on for ages about how much I loved this book! If you like inclusive, feminist myth retellings, you will love A Beautiful Evil! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC, which I voluntarily chose to review.

This book is a stunning & memorable retelling of Pandora’s box, filled with a grumpy x sunshine romance that’s full of witty banter & delicious yearning. I honestly found myself tabbing so many quotes because the prose is just THAT fab!! ‘