Greek mythology retellings are something I find myself reading more and more, and I was really excited to read this one as Pandora is such an interesting character.

I did think that there was a bit of a divide in this one, with the first 45/50% giving more romance than the main plot of the story, but it picked itself up in the second half in terms of where it was going.

I have so much love for this book. I can't even.

So. Things I love:

Pandora as a person 💚 She's just the sweetest, most radiant, beautiful person. She struggles to understand why she is, who she is, and how she can make a world where she FITS.

I don't know what it means to be human in this world, to be a woman in this world, to be a me in this world.

Matheos. A, the grumpy, eye-rolling grump who grumps. Who secretly heals wounded animals (don't tell anyone...). He's just adorable. And his journey to understanding that how his family has treated him and finding a true family? Love. It.

This is true hope - a thing with teeth, a thing that can take a beating, hope that can be knocked down and bleed and surge once more.

And the whole story. There where moments (especially those where Pandora spirals into hyperfixations) which I think some readers might find a bit long? But to me, it was such a beautiful part of who she is, and I loved how she figures out how her brain works.

Bonus appearance of grumpy Hades and Persephone (might I suggest a People With Something Against Zeus alliance crossover?)!

A Beautiful Evil is a YA retelling of the Pandora myth and my first read from Bea Fitzgerald. I will definitely reach for more later.

I enjoyed the writing style, the world created by the author, and the characters. I am even more curious about her other books now than before. I loved that the novel touches on sexism, expectations towards women, free will, and finding your voice and passions.

On the other hand, I would like the book more if those themes played a bigger role in the narrative. It seemed like the story’s first half was a romance, with only hints of a plot that develops in the second half. I would rather like to see them intertwined. I was getting slightly bored as someone who doesn’t read many romance novels. Luckily, the second half had higher stakes, a faster pace and a captivating plot.

Beautiful Evil by Bea Fitzgerald
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bea Fitzgerald does it again! A Beautiful Evil tells the story of Pandora, and I really loved this reimagining of the story. I feel Pandora is only remembered for the box (which wasn't even a box) and I loved getting a more fleshed out version of the tale.

The romance between Pandora and Epimetheus was sweet, and I loved the complexity and growth between the two characters. I also enjoyed how Bea Fitzgerald makes Epimetheus' disability part of the story, without it being a negative. Also, this is very much one for the plus-sized girls!!

Overall this story was another captivating and enjoyable Greek retelling, and I'm so pleased to be adding it to the collection.

A book to remind you that there is always hope, and one to pick up for sure if you love Grumpy X Sunshine romance.

Bea Fitzgerald has been one of my auto-buy authors since Girl, Goddess, Queen first came out and I have not once been disappointed by her at all, which had me really excited to read this one as soon as I could, especially after I learned it had autism representation.

A Beautiful Evil follows Pandora who has been made by the gods for one purpose, to love and be loved by her new husband. However, he wants nothing to do with her, leaving Pandora struggling to find purpose in her life.

I absolutely love Bea Fitzgerald’s writing particularly within her YA books and I completely felt this way from the first 30 pages of this book. One thing that really stood out to me that I loved in A Beautiful Evil was the way that Pandora’s autism was written throughout the story particularly within her thought patterns, questions about the world and the things she struggled with over the course of the book. As a neurodivergent reader I really connected to many of these parts of the book and Pandora making it a book that I couldn’t help but love even more.

Another key part of this book that I loved was watching Pandora figure out who she actually was and not who she thought she was made to be. It felt like a really well developed part of the book that is a perfect example of what I want to see within my YA books on a frequent basis.

I loved the characters that we saw throughout A Beautiful Evil and seeing glimpses of characters from Girl, Goddess, Queen and The End Crowns All. Pandora and Matheos were both characters who I really enjoyed learning more about and following as they discovered why Pandora was created and tried to do what was best for humanity as well. I also as this went on loved watching their feelings for each other grow and the pair find ways to support each other in the ways to support each other in the ways that they needed. The side characters of Ione and Kerkeis also felt well developed.

In addition to having an autistic main character this book also features plus size representation and a deaf main character all of which just feel like who the characters are which is something I always love in Bea Fitzgerald’s books.

Overall this was a book that I could not stop reading and an anticipated release that did not disappoint me. I am looking forward to seeing what Bea Fitzgerald will be doing next both within the YA and Adult spaces because she is definitely a favourite author of mine and I would highly recommend all of her books, especially this one.

Thank you to Penguin/NetGalley for this ARC.

As someone who loved Bea Fitgerald's previous Greek mythology retellings, Girl Goddess Queen and The Crown Ends All, I loved this one too!

A Beautiful Evil follows Pandora, the first human woman hand-crafted by the Gods, as she navigates not only living itself but the evils committed by the Gods and how to live with Epimatheos, the man she was gifted to. It is so interesting to see where her curiosity takes her and how Epimatheos adjusts to this as well.

The book includes Grumpy X Sunshine, great character development, well-written autism representation, along with lovely mechanical animals. It had great pacing and was a joy to read.

A BEAUTIFUL EVIL is a Greek mythology retelling centred around Pandora, making her more than a cautionary tale for women.

Pandora is one of the first Greek myths I remember learning about but one I haven't seen authors take up in the current Greek mythology craze. It was so nice to come across a "new" myth to be retold, instead of seeing another take on one of the more popular figures in mythology.

She is also an interesting character to take as a central lead. Pandora really only has the one myth associated with her, a figure created to be a warning to women and so used in one way then ignored. Bea Fitzgerald has therefore drawn on other fragmentary myths of the figures associated with Pandora to weave this narrative, expanding the gaps in Pandora's life so she steps beyond the "don't be curious and instead do what your told" purpose of her original myth.

Pandora is an autistic lead, which I was so excited to discover. The author explains this in the note at the end (and that Pandora's world doesn't have a word for this.) She hates the feel of certain clothes and loves discovering how things work as well as baking. I really liked seeing both the "creative" and "scientific" sides of her interests - often media portrays autistic people as being scientifically minded and that's it, but that's not true. There's such a range of interests out there.

It's also so, so nice to see an autistic female lead in this current, very popular, Greek mythology trend - and a plus sized one at that. Bea Fitzgerald's books have always been very inclusive, and this is no different.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for sending me this ARC.

Bea Fitzgerald has become one of my auto-buy authors, and I adore her mythology retellings. I was ecstatic to receive this ARC, and it did not disappoint!

Pandora has become one of my favourite female heroines - she is quick-witted, emotionally intelligent, and curious. Mateous was grumpy but with reason, and he clearly loves harder than he is willing to admit. The build-up and tension between them once Pandora realised she didn't HAVE to love him, then realising she did was perfection.

Thoroughly enjoyed - 4 stars!

Pandora’s life motto might as well be “thrown into the deep end and told to swim” except in her case, the gods chucked her into a whole new world with one mission: marry Epimatheos and be the perfect wife. Problem is… Matheos wants nothing to do with her, and Pandora instantly defaults to cooking and cleaning like it’s her sole purpose in life. Girlie, no... You deserve more than making soup for a man who won’t even bother sterilizing a needle. (“A bother! You weren’t even going to sterilize the needle! You know what’s a bother, Matheos? Infection!” I was honest to the gods crying laughing.)

What really makes Pandora shine is how she refuses to stay in that box the gods built for her. She’s a plus-size, autistic FMC who starts to find her own interests, especially when she discovers the automatons (little animatronic animals powered by Greek myth magic). She’s determined to learn how they work and fix them, bouncing from hobby to hobby like a human Pinterest board (which felt really relatable!). Every new skill felt like another small rebellion against the role she was “supposed” to play.

Matheos, meanwhile, is all sharp edges and shut doors… at first. He keeps her at arm’s length, but as Pandora stops bending herself to fit his expectations, something shifts. They start talking. They start helping each other in small ways. They start understanding each other. And slowly but steadily they turn from strangers in an arranged marriage into allies, and Matheos obviously can’t help but fall in love with Pandora.

Which brings us to my favorite scene: the fake-hating-each-other-for-the-gods performance. Absolute theatre. They deliver barbed words, exaggerated sighs, and just enough venom to keep up appearances, all while secretly operating as a perfectly in-sync duo. It’s clever, it’s hilarious, and it’s the moment you realise their bond has become unshakable. It gave me major Hadestown energy, how Hades and Persephone act around each other simultaneously loving and despising one another, it’s obvious to say that I devoured it!

The representation in A Beautiful Evil is genuinely joyful. From Pandora herself, to Matheos with hearing aids and relying on lip-reading, to a queer romance between two ocean creatures. And while the romance is fade-to-black (keeping it firmly YA), the emotional beats still land beautifully.

Beneath the banter and mythological mischief, this is really Pandora’s quest to figure out WHY she’s here. Why did the gods create her? Was her only purpose to be a wife, or could she define her own? That question threads through every choice she makes but for me it truly landed in one of my favourite Matheos quotes:
“Maybe that’s your purpose actually: to leave things better than you found them.”
This man is such a cutie, he should be protected at all costs 🥹❤️

In short: A Beautiful Evil is snarky, heartfelt, and brimming with mythical mischief. It’s a story about finding your voice, your freedom, and maybe even your place in the world. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Queen of Greek mythology retelling does it again in ‘A Beautiful Evil’.

Why did the gods create Pandora? And why have they sent her to a man who doesn’t want her?

Bea Fitzgerald writes so beautifully and this book is filled with so much creativity that keeps you captivated right from the start.

A definite must read for all.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

The full on princess diaries “Shut Up” I didn’t when I saw I was approved for this arc on NetGalley. Having loved the previous two books in this collection, Girl Goddess Queen and The End Crowns All, I was excited to dive into this latest release. I also adore the Waterstones editions of all three books the stunning cover designs, sprayed edges, and the naked hardback under the dust jacket truly show the time and care put into these editions. Ill stop my love letter to Bea here I promise.
A Beautiful Evil is a captivating reimagining of the Pandora myth, blending Greek mythology with modern themes of self-discovery and identity. This YA fantasy novel follows Pandora, the first human woman created by the gods, as she navigates complex emotions, unexpected relationships, and her own unique place in the world.
What makes this book stand out is its authentic representation of autism through Pandora, providing meaningful visibility rarely seen in fantasy protagonists. Bea’s witty and heartfelt writing brings the characters to life, especially the charming grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Pandora and Epimatheos.
Fans of slow-burn romance, feminist retellings, and inclusive representation will find A Beautiful Evil both engaging and thought-provoking. With its blend of humour, mythology, and hope, this book is a must-read.

First of all, I'm a huge Greek mythology lover. I've read my fair share of Greek myths but I've never read about the story of Pandora before. It's not that I had never heard of Pandora's box before, we've all heard the phrase before, but do we really know the story? Turns out, I didn't!

The Gods created Pandora to appease Epimatheos, the broter of the infamous Prometheus. She was made to be perfect for him (and was the first human woman). In this way, the Gods try to control Epimatheos, since he was a Titan (though he fought alongside the Greeks against the other Titans during the war). When Pandora first comes to Matheos' house she feels like she's in service of him. Not thinking of anything else: You said yesterday that you were struggling so much with working through the instincts the gods gave you that you could only cook."

As the story progresses, we see her develop into a living, thinking being. I liked the way her inner thoughts were portrayed: her goals, purposes and even the question of who she truly is. According to the prophecy of Prometheus, she is to be the downfall of humanity: "but it's not you, it's whatever the gods are trying to achieve", as Matheos said. It's a story about hope, for a better world, for their love.

There were some things I didn't like about this book. There were too many subplots happening at once: the story with Prometheus, his wife, the humans, attempts to alter time and more. These distracted me from the main storyline. I felt like the author put too much into this book. I must admit that it left me unsatisfied, especially the last 100 pages. I just couldn't keep up.

Overall, a nice read! I'm giving it 3,5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this e-arc.

Bea managed to do it again. To write a book that is a reflection of the way our own world is- still believing that neurodivergent people have to fit the mould- and create stories of love, hardship and hope for the characters who reflect that- who break the mould and live as they so wish, like Pandora.

If there was ever a book I’d wished to have read as a young girl, unsure of where I stood, it would have been A Beautiful Evil.

Full of adventure, prophecies and Matheos’s snark, I implore anyone who wishes to read it to do so

A good read for mythology fans. This is a retelling of the myth of Pandora from her POV. I really enjoyed the perspective and romance in this and would definitely recommend

A delightful take on the Pandora Myth and a must read for everyone that loves greek mythology. Bea Fitzgerald once again wrote a story that is much more than just a retelling. A Beautiful Evil is a story about the journey to find yourself and your purpose in the world. It's a book about love, about self acceptance, about fate and how we can change the future. And most importantly it's a book about hope.

I always love seeing retellings/reimagings of Greek myth in the YA space because content like this is what gets a lot of younger readers into Greek mythology and ancient history.

A Beautiful Evil is a reimaging of the myth of Pandora, and in it she is just a girl trying to answer one question: what was she made for?

Pandora is quippy and becomes more empowered as the story goes on, and while I have some complex feelings about the book, I love the fact that Bea Fitzgerald has included a note that Pandora is autistic in her portrayal. Pandora's need to find how she fits into a world and the curiosity she feels at everything is deeply relatable.

Additionally, I love that the gift from Zeus to Pandora is a pithos (as pictured on the cover) instead of a box as is so often mistaken in modern media! 💚

Thank you so much to @netgalley, @penguinrandomhouse and @chaosonolympus for the opportunity to read this! A Beautiful Evil releases on August 7th.

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.

In A Beautiful Evil, Bea Fitzgerald delivers a heart-wrenching, tender and beautiful reexamination of a tale you may think you know.

Bea Fitzgerald has such an interesting viewpoint within the collection of Greek mythological retellings because her takes have such strong characterisation and empowering messages for the readers of her tales. They are full of joy and heartache in equal measure, often finding love in unexpected places but keeping humour throughout. This time, we are treated to her take on the myth of Pandora.

Yet again, the characterisation is stellar and Pandora stole a space in my heart so quickly. She is hilarious and caring with a keen intellect and a huge capacity for love. Being literally born yesterday, she wants to fulfill the purpose the gods have created her for, with a slightly whimsical romantic dream. The reality she faces is remarkably different and cruel. Everything tries to beat her down but she adapts to try and face it all. Ultimately this is a story of her empowerment and carving out her place in the world. She is the beating heart of this book, accompanied by a fantastic cast of supporting characters that feel fleshed-out and believable. I would love several spin-offs. Pandora is also incredibly vulnerable in seeking that connection - she is a plaything of the gods, a tool for their amusement, as the rest of the humans are too. There is such a three-dimensionality to her that just makes you root for her.

Do not be fooled though, Fitzgerald also has a knack for twisting the knife. This is a story of profound heartbreak and existentialism - Pandora’s arc is centered around finding and understanding her purpose. It is an aching exploration of our place in the world and the narratives that are already inscribed upon us. She has been prophesied to break the world and that burden weighs heavily on her. I was reminded of the exploration of selfhood in Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?’, particularly as a woman in a deeply patriarchal society. If she has been created as ‘the perfect woman’, what does that really mean? Fitzgerald delves into the male gaze and impossible standards of beauty that entrap women and pit them against one another. Pandora is named as a ‘beautiful evil’ by the gods themselves, so this then informs her self-perception and the way others view her too. That contradictory nature and that promise of a trap dehumanises and categorises her, effectively alienating her from those around her. The isolated setting adds to this, though things may change over the course of the book. I loved the author’s note at the back about the language Pandora wouldn’t be able to use but we may apply today around neurodivergence and how that manifests in this story. It is very much a story of navigating a world that you do not fully understand and has no interest in understanding you. Instead, there is a need to adapt and shapeshift and change almost every fibre of your being to fit in. It is aching and raw but there is also joy in finding spaces to be unequivocally yourself and have yourself be understood by those you love. With this, Fitzgerald is crafting such an impactful message and this must be commended.

I loved how Pandora used the perceptions others had of her to her benefit and that sense of taking back an iota of her power. It was a wonderful undermining of the established narrative that immediately lets you know that this won’t quite be the story that you’re used to. Fitzgerald has a gift for pulling you so completely into her story that you almost forget that you may know where it may lead and then you root for it to be different this time. Of course, sometimes it may indeed be different and Fitzgerald has plenty of wonderful twists and turns in store.

A Beautiful Evil continues Bea Fitzgerald’s reign in the sphere of achingly beautiful YA mythological retellings that delight, empower and destroy their audiences.

"I didn't...I don't want to overstep-"
"Step wherever you like, Pandora. I know you don't do it from malice"
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Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I know I took my time reading this ARC but it felt slower than her previous books. I think there was less background it was mostly just Pandora and Matheos, though with the time jumping it would be hard to get too invested in the surroundings. Skipped through alot of Pandora's creation which was initially disappointing but suppose the whole theme of her story is discovering who she is not what she was made to be.
I love the robot dog best 💚
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Im not sure if im dumb but the last 50 pages left me frazzled but i know the dog survived and thats what i needed
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⭐️⭐️⭐️

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!!

‘𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐼 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜. 𝑊𝑒’𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑑𝑠-𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑦, 𝑤𝑒’𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒.’

Pandora herself is written with so much heart by Bea. She’s funny, kind & deeply human as she questions her existence, ultimately realising she’s far more than what the gods intended for her. That growth makes her even more wonderful to read about 🥹

I absolutely loved this, the romance & Bea’s writing style came together so purrrfectly.