Love love loved this one! I absolutely adored girl goddess queen so was so excited when I saw I had this arc.
I loved the character art at the beginning of the book showcasing how Pandora is a curvy gorgeous woman. We need more curvy fmcs!

The love story was obviously swoon worthy and I loved how strong Pandora was as a female - again another boss bit*h in Beas Greek mythology world.

I am really glad she chose the Pandora mythology for this as I haven’t read many before so enjoyed the freshness of the retelling!!

4.75 stars

GGQ and TECA were two of my favourite books that I read last year and I said as soon as ABE was announced that there is no one I trust more with a retelling of the myth of Pandora than Bea Fitzgerald. My expectations were high and I had every confidence they would be exceeded - and they were!

This book depicts Pandora as a fantastic, multifaceted protagonist - she’s plus size and autistic which is brilliant rep but as well as that she loves baking and mechanics and she’s flirtatious and sexually liberated and selfless and stubborn and curious and she complains about chafing thighs (so real.) and she and Matheos have a wonderful slow-burn romance filled with so much yearning!! I loved reading her story and going with her on her journey of identity and self-love. Bea always does a fantastic job of writing protagonists who learn to embrace and love the parts of themselves that society wants to shame them for, and this book is no different.

I also really enjoyed the story - there is a real mystery to be solved with a lot of little pieces that made my jaw drop when they came together in a way I could not predict. Even the details I worried were potentially going to be significant plot holes turned out to be setting up huge plot twists (Bea, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry I ever doubted you). The stakes were so high - like, potentially world-ending high - and I was absolutely hooked the whole time hoping that these wonderful characters might make it out okay. There’s even a bit of wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey stuff and multiverse theory added in (don’t ask, it makes sense with context) which as both a mythology and a sci-fi nut was perfect for me.

Overall, this book is brilliantly written with an expertly crafted plot and characters you can’t help but root for. Bea Fitzgerald never misses!!

This was so beautiful, I was a mess in the end.

I have always loved Greek mythology, and the story of Pandora has always been intriguing to me. The story between her and Methos was beautiful, sweet, funny, and so pure.

It shows how the gods merely see the mortals as their playthings, and yet most honor them out of fear. The moments of comedy were both sharp and brilliant, and there was sarcasm for days. Pandora was truly a woman ahead of her time, and that scared Zeus,

All around a fantastic story, and I hope there are more to come.

thank you netgalley and penguin random house for a review copy

This was a very well done greek mythology reimagining of Pandora and I really enjoyed. I thought the perspective of this book was new and unique - the writing was also fantastic!! The character development was probably my favourite part of this book and I found the voice of Pandora consistent from the beginning! I enjoyed the other bits of greek mythology throughout and how the gods interact with each other. I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you loved any other books by Bea or are interested in a creative mythology retelling I highly recommend this book!!
4.75 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for sending this ARC!

Pandora is a well-known figure, even to those who are unfamiliar with Greek Myth, and Bea Fitzgerald's retelling explores a whole different side. She explores Pandora's mortal side, her feelings and wants to find out about everything - her life, her reasoning and of course, the box/jar. As a Greek mythology fan, this book felt overwhelming at parts - perhaps too much explaining for things that didn't necessarily need it. However, it does pay off for delving deeply into the relationship between Pandora and Epimetheus, who is a relatively lesser-known character. Whilst this book did feel perhaps too long at parts for me, I did overall enjoy it and found myself, as usual, kicking my feet at the relationships like in all of Fitzgerald's Greek retellings. This is a definite read for sure.

I loved Girl Godesses Queen and The End Crowns All, so I was very excited to dive into A Beautiful Evil.

It's the perfect summer read - a fresh, exciting and fun reimagining, with a slow burn romance, beautiful prose and full of sharp wit.

Bea really breathes a fresh voice into Greek Mythology retellings, and I adored her take on Pandora.

The first human woman, crafted by the Gods and gifted to the Titan Epimatheos. Her purpose to be love and be loved. But this is Greek Mythology. She seems to be failing at her very purpose. Or is she? There's something there, a connection they both find increasingly difficult to ignore. But as that slow burn intensifies, humanity becomes at risk and the end of the world is in peril. What would you do?

The characters leap from the pages, the romantic tension simmers, the stakes are high which makes it hard to put down!

The story doesn't shy away from the dark side of the Gods and life in Mount Olympus, however it is approached sensitively without being gratuitous, and shows how hope can overcome adversity.

It's relatable, it's representative and it has a strong message about being your true self.

A beautiful story 100% recommended, and although marketed as YA, older readers will throughly enjoy this one too!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley*
I fear I will never stop talking about this book. As soon as I saw 'a re-imagining of the Greek myth Pandora' I knew this book would be captivating. The story is truly beautiful, full of hope, curiosity, and acceptance. The neurodiverse representation is superb! And without giving too much away I loved the inclusion of a character with hearing issues, and a character in a bigger body that is just accepted.
I loved the plot and the dynamic between the main characters. I just truly loved the message of hope and acceptance present throughout this book. Pandora is a character who I think will stay with me, and I hope to find books with characters like her in the future. Everything about this story is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough. The plot is so unique and clever that it makes this book unputdownable. I do recommend looking at the trigger warnings before picking up this story as it touches on some darker subjects but is not graphic. I'm so grateful to have received an early copy of this book, and I cannot wait to read it again.

I loved this one so much!
I bought the first one purely on how beautiful the book was, but it was also such a great read.
Loved this one just as much, and can't wait to have my beautiful hardback copy!

✨ ARC Review: A Beautiful Evil by Bea Fitzgerald ✨

This was a wonderful book — fresh, fierce, and full of feeling. I’ve read plenty of Greek mythology retellings, but never one from Pandora’s perspective, and this one genuinely did her justice. I saw so much of myself in her: the curiosity that sometimes gets you in trouble, the sensory overwhelm, the hope you cling to even when it seems irrational. The author explicitly confirms Pandora is autistic in the afterword, and honestly, it meant the world to see that so thoughtfully woven into her character.

What really stood out was how the story didn’t gloss over the darker side of mythology — the misogyny, the way power is used to harm. It’s never graphic (this is YA), but it’s present, and it doesn’t flinch. There are moments where Pandora’s anger and indignation feel incredibly real and earned — and honestly, I felt it right alongside her.

But the real heart of this book is in the way it holds space for hope. Pandora carries it with her from the start, but when it falters, someone else helps her find her way back to it. That dynamic between them — full of quiet care, slow trust, and mutual survival — was so powerful. It’s a connection that builds, and by the end, it just fits.

If you like mythology, feminist rage, slow-burn romance, inclusive rep, and books that ultimately choose hope, you’ll want this on your list. If you prefer steamy romance or want to avoid any mention of SA (non-explicit but present), just be aware going in.

📚 I received this ARC from Penguin Random House on Netgallery in return for an honest review.

Pandora didn’t have a box. Pandora had a jar that was given to her by someone who manipulated her it into opening it, but Pandora made sure she had her say (and then some). This is the myth like you’ve never heard it before, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

Pandora is the first human woman, created by the gods as a gift for Epimatheos (brother of Prometheus) for siding with the gods during the war with the Titans. But like with every gift from the gods, it comes with a sting in its tail. So Pandora and Matheos must work together to figure out why she was made and what the gods really want with her. This book is twist after twist that turns Greek myths on their heads, and I’m here for it.

I loved all the representation in this book. Matheos is deaf and wears something akin to hearing aids, designed by Hephaestus, and Pandora is autistic. I loved getting into her head, hearing her thoughts as she tried to navigate the world and figure things out. It was something I’d experienced so often. And I loved that Matheos understood and validated her.

If you love Greek mythology, if you love strong women, or if you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong, read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Caught my self smiling alot reading this book.
Reading an autistic coded character and never naming it. Warmed my autistic heart. She captured what it's like so easily. So nive reading from that point of view.
The love story is one of myth.
Bea's reimaginings are some of my favourites and this one is up there too. This woman has the Midas touch of YA literature

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Pandora is the first human woman – made by the gods on Olympus for one simple reason: to love and be loved by her new husband, the titan Epimatheos. The only problem? He wants nothing to do with her. Hurt and confused, Pandora struggles to find meaning in her new life. What's the point of being given all these gifts by the gods, if she can't get this infuriating, awful, frankly very rude man (with an admittedly quite nice face) to love her? Maybe she's failing at her life’s purpose. Or maybe she's destined for an entirely different one . . . ? As Pandora and Matheos work to uncover why she was created, that fated connection between them feels increasingly difficult to ignore. And with that comes terrible risk. Because Matheos’s traitorous brother, Prometheus, is a seer – and before the gods captured him he issued a final that Pandora and Matheos’s love will be humanity’s doom. So . . . what do you do when faced with an all-powerful love . . . that just happens to threaten the end of the world? Pandora’s about to find out.

I’ve read both of Fitzgerald’s previous Greek myth reimaginings (Girl, Goddess, Queen reigning in the top spot) and really enjoyed those stories. So, of course I was going to jump into this one as well! Unfortunately, I had to give up at 64% - and about 10% of that was skimming it. Initially, I was engaged in the story. Like Pandora, I found myself imbued with curiosity whilst reading the book. But then I just found that things were getting to be too wordy for me. Not necessarily just in the word sense, but also in the volume of mythology used. It felt a little bit info-dumpy to me as I went through, trying to link everything together, and then I just found my attention drifting constantly. I do love how Fitzgerald clearly knows her stuff with these mythology retellings, you can see the passion in it. But for me, as someone not so invested, it just felt a little too much. The characters felt relatively good - the author has a brilliant way of reimagining these entities within mythology - but I think as my engagement waned, as did my attention to detail with their personalities. I will say she gets top marks though for having Pandora be a curvy girl!

Giving this review 3 stars because whilst I DNF’d this book, I was initially enjoying it.

Overall, A Beautiful Evil is a story I know will appeal to so many - it’s just not my cup of tea right now.

Thank you again to Penguin Random House UK for an advanced copy of this book. Review is live now on Goodreads. Due to DNFing this book, the review will not be posted on my blog.

This is very low stakes (or at least reads that way) and cozy.

I struggled to get invested in the story. I know the plot of Pandora and was just waiting for it to happen.

Also didn’t love the change at the end. I think I am more of classist then I thought.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A big thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for this ARC!

I’m a huge fan of myth retellings, and this one was absolutely brilliant! Pandora was portrayed as so much more than just the girl who opened the box, and I found her relationship with Matheos truly fascinating.

The characters are vibrant and beautifully written, and I really appreciated the neurodivergent representation.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for this ARC!

I love a myth retelling, and this one was just masterful! I absolutely loved Pandora and her presentation as so much more than the girl that opened the box. Her relationship with Matheos is definitely an interesting one.

The characters are vivid and well written, and the neuro spicy representation is appreciated. This is my title by this author, but it certainly will not be the last!

Loved GGQ and thought TECA was just fine. This fell somewhere in the middle for me. I enjoyed the retelling a lot and liked the relationship between Pandora and Matheus. I think, occasionally, it dragged but perhaps that is simply book length. Overall, another Bea Fitzgerald win for me and I feel a lot of my teenage students will love it.