Absolutely loved this mytho retelling. Was a little slow to start but definitely picked up! I'd be looking for other books by this author in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At first, it was a bit slow. There was a point where I even wanted to DNF it. But as I continue reading, I started to really like the message of Psyche and I enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters. The biggest complaint by so many people is the accuracy of it but I loved how the author took the story in her own hands and told it the way she wanted to. I mean, that’s the point of retellings, no? She explains a lot of her thought process in the author’s note so I suggest reading that as well. Overall, I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store.

I loved this! The writing is beautiful and the story is perfect for the current hype from Lore Olympus. Will likely be a well circulated book.

I loved the plot and the twist on the classic mythology story that is Psyche and Eros. I loved the romance that occurred. I loved the fantastical aspects of it and the idea that Psyche is normal yet has godly lineage. The writing style was just beautiful.

I have had a hard time getting into this book, which is really too bad because I love the myth of Psyche and Eros, which is what drew me to it in the first place. It may be a timing or a goodness of fit issue. I've poked at it for months and I'm finally deciding to DNF for now and come back later. I don't feel I can give it a fair, fully review yet, except to say that I don't love the prose and I'm struggled to connect. Will update later on.

Psyche And Eros (ARC)
Luna McNamara
4⭐️
Pub Date: 5/30/2023

Eros has always been a mischievous but lonely god, unsure of his role in the universe. He has shot his love arrows so many times but found emptiness and regret on bestowing love that can break gods and mortals alike. He has secluded himself to prevent further chaos in the world.
There's a prophecy that Psyche will defeat a great monster, and since birth, she's been preparing for that momentous event to be a great hero, one that poets write about. But she has crossed Aphrodite on one of her conquests and now she is the subject of her wrath. Eros is to deliver the curse, but he pricked himself with the arrow made for her instead. What awaits their love story when it can end in nothing else but doom?

I am a mythology enthusiast and the story of Psyche and Eros has been one that is less popular and known to me. Before reading this book, I have Googled the actual myth itself to refresh myself and see what McNamara has written differently. Overall, This is a good and enjoyable retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros. There were so many changes from the basic Greek/Roman mythology details (which the author acknowledged), but this was interesting and refreshing. The writing style is good and easy. The story had some heavy and light parts and it was very easy to get lost into the plot. The gods were annoying like crazy (emotions are good to feel for a book) and some that are legitimately heartwarming. I loved that Medusa was given a different role and picture here. I enjoyed this book and I think I'll be in a Mythology phase/craze/mood because of this!

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for a free and advanced e-copy of this book!

Psyche and Eros is the latest novel-length re-telling of a classic story from Greek mythology. Part myth and part fairy tale, the book begins by defining the different types of love (philia, agape, and eros) before launching into a sweeping romance told in turns by the title characters. Eros’ story begins as the universe is unfolding “before there were stories to be told”. McNamara presents Eros as a primordial god of love who sets life into motion by shooting an arrow that brings the earth and sky together. His twin sister Eris, the goddess of discord, is the antidote to his power. As time unfolds, generations of the gods fight for power, and finally Zeus, eager to cement his place on Mt. Olympus, pulls his own goddess of love from the sea. Aphrodite adopts Eros as her son in a power move against the older god.

It will be thousands of years before Eros is introduced to Psyche, the mortal girl who has been prophesied to become a hero. Psyche grows into a beautiful young woman and earns the ire of Aphrodite with her lack of interest in romance, and Eros is compelled to shoot Psyche with a cursed arrow. When Eros mistakenly cuts himself with the arrow, he falls hopelessly in love with Psyche, but, because of the curse, she is not allowed to see his true form or they will be split apart, forever craving what they cannot have.

The love between Eros and Psyche is set against a backdrop of Greek history and mythology which highlights the beauty and dangers of human love and desire. McNamara plays with source material, casting Penelope as Helen’s sister and turning Clytemnestra’s daughter Iphigenia into Psyche’s beloved cousin. The romance between Psyche and Eros unfolds slowly, as Eros must present himself in various animal forms to maintain their connection. When Psyche lights a candle to gaze on her sleeping husband’s true form, they are ripped apart, and Psyche must endure Aphrodite’s tortures if she hopes to regain her true love.

“Beauty and the Beast” is my favorite fairy tale, so I was thrilled to learn that there was a novel telling the story of Eros and Psyche, often cited as an early variant of the “Search for the Lost Husband” tale type. This book did not disappoint! Although it lacks the full reach of Madeline Miller’s Circe, the book presents a passionate romance while exploring ideas of free choice, heroic action, human folly, and the curious life of the gods. The narrative voice is both humorous and touching, and readers will find themselves fully invested in the beautiful love story of Eros and Psyche. This book is a must-read for fans of fairy tale, romance, and mythology!

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

I wasn’t as familiar with the Psyche and Eros story so I can’t comment on accuracy/ changes, but I enjoyed their love story. However, I think what made it difficult for me to really love this book was their separation and the hopping around from story to story. It felt like there were several plots going on and I really didn’t want that much going on. I would have loved Psyche and Eros to have more face to face time together in the book - pun intended.

I have always been a big fan of retellings of ancient myths, and with Circe and other heavy hitters showing that there can be incredible standouts in the genre I was very excited to read an interpretation of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros.

Overall, I enjoyed this retelling and would recommend it to fans of this kind of story. I wouldn't say it stands above all other recent entries of retellings, but it certainly isn't a slouch. The characters were mostly believable and endearing (with Eros being a standout for his perspective on the world), but the pacing was slow enough that I noticed it and found myself becoming eager for things to get going.

I really enjoyed this one! What a fun, fresh take on greek mythology.

I can't say I've ever read a take on greek gods quite like this. I especially loved Eros's POV, from his sass and sheer confidence (what a vibrant voice!) to the way the author described his origins and the origins of the gods and humanity. I wasn't quite sure how Psyche would walk onto the page in Eros's POV, even as we watched her grow up in her chapters, and when finally they collided, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised.

Admittedly, I haven't followed greek mythology very closely, and I can't say I'm attached to anything. I'm sure there's quite a bit of inaccuracy here and liberties taken, but that doesn't bother me. If anything, I think it's fun to read something wildly different. If you're looking for hard lines though, maybe look elsewhere. If you can set aside your preconceived notions, I think you'll very much enjoy this!

This romantic book contains the myth of Eros & Psyche's cursed love, their meet-cute and how they came to be. Psyche is strong both mentally and physically. She is a warrior who believes she is destined to become a hero. Eros is jaded, and he fears love. He believes it only brings about terrible things. Their story is romantic, magical and loaded with obstacles. If love Madeline Miller and desire mythology and romance this story is sure to be perfect for you. It is easy to read, fascinating and filled with gods, and love. A tale about doomed love and the lengths a god and mortal will go to in order to end up together.

This Greek myth retelling gives us a bold, determined Psyche and an Eros who is completely devoted to her. If you like Natalie Haynes' books, you will love this debut from Luna McNamara.

The romance between Psyche and Eros is great, but the heart of this feminist novel is the relationships between the women. I love the bonds between Psyche and her teacher Atalanta and with her cousin Iphigenia.

My favorite part of this book is a conversation Psyche has with Medusa, who asks her to reflect on what truly makes a monster. Is it the beast she slayed for glory, or she who slaughtered it without provocation? Psyche is incredibly easy to root for as she redefines what heroism means to her.

With the Trojan War as a backdrop to Psyche's story, you get to meet Achilles, Odysseus, and Helen of Troy along with some other amazing characters. This is a great read for fans of Greek myths and retellings.

I received a free digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Release Date: June 13

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm not sure what I expected going into this book, but whatever it was this didn't meet those expectations. I feel like nothing happened. It was hard to connect to the characters and the world. I love Greek myth retellings but this one just lagged. I really considered DNFing multiple times but pushed through. I did think the writing was great but the story itself was lacking.

An interpretation of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. It took me a while to get invested in the book due to the author’s writing style. It is told in first person from both the perspective of Psyche and Eros, switching off every other chapter. It’s also told as someone telling you a story that has already happened.

I believe the author does well in crafting a story with believable characters. Psyche is very human when she is eighteen and believes herself a child of prophecy to become a hero slaying monsters. Side characters are also 3-dimensional like Atalanta, Iphigenia, and Clytemnestra, but not Elektra because a child that is six does not talk like that.

This was enjoyable for a few reasons. It showcases the helplessness of many women throughout Greek myth and history but Psyche doesn’t fall into that category. This telling of Psyche and Eros is not only about women’s existence in this time period but also the showing these women trying to help each other navigate those treacherous waters. Sometimes you can help those who are drowning and sometimes you can’t. This myth also is one of the few that isn’t a tragedy.

Though I was not a huge fan of the language the author used to tell the story, just because in comparison I enjoy more flowery prose in mythical retellings, I believe this is highly accessible in its simplicity. There are many people who will enjoy this from the perspective that it is straightforward, as well as told in first person.

Psyche and Eros has always been one of my favorite mythology stories, so I was super excited to read this book. It has a lot of great things, I liked how the author reimagined some of the different aspects and characters, and I will say, if you’re looking for a perfect retelling of the myth-this is not that. This was a fun read!

I’m really upset that the author changed so much, especially from the first chapter. With the rise of Greek mythology retellings, fans of the genre might think that this girlbossification of the classic story is an accurate representation. Psyche is a strong character because all that makes her soft and femme. The author takes that away from her to make her rough and masc in a tired and uninteresting way. There was no reason to have all the side character cameos or set the story during the Trojan War either, it felt so forced. I wish this book was “inspired by Psyche and Eros” without being a retelling. If all the character names and places had been changed and this story lived independent of its inspiration, it could have shone much better. Instead, it feels like a half-baked cash grab.

Year Pub/Re Pub: 6/13/23
Book's cover: very symbolic with arrows, flowers, and a butterfly
Format: e-arc
Source: Thanks for the ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. I voluntarily give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Page Count: 352
Setting: Greece
Genre: Sci-Fi, historical romance
Tropes: Greek mythology re-imagining, LGBTQ rep., forced proximity, magic
Standalone/Cliffhanger/Part of a Series: standalone
HEA/HFN ending: HEA
Epilogue Included: yes, their little family
Character(s)POV Spoken: H/h alternating POVs

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Psyche is born with a prophecy from the Fates that she will conquer monsters feared by the gods. Her father makes sure she is prepared by receiving a "boy's education," and being trained as a warrior. Eros's love arrows don't have quite the right HEA for his victims.Eros accidently cuts himself on a cursed arrow. Will the prophecy come true and can Eros break the curse?
M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc.: M/F
Representation: LGBTQ, femme fatales
Contains Cheating: no for H/h, but many other gods do
Contains Children: yes, story begins w/ newborn Psyche and moments of her childhood
Flashbacks: yes, stories about the gods. Psyche's strong personality from childhood. Taught to be a warrior by Atalanta.
Amount of Sex In The Book: enough, h was a virgin their 1st time
Overall Smex Rating: 3

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
Hero: Eros/Cupid
Hero Description: God of desire who shoots with a bow and arrows to make gods and mortals fall in love, but it always ends badly.
Hero Likability Rating: 3

Heroine: Psyche
Heroine Description: Princess of Mychanae. Trained and educated like a male. Prophecy states she will conquer monsters feared by the gods.
Heroine Likability Rating: 5

Secondary characters:
Zephyrus- god of the west winds, Eros's friend
Aphrodite- goddess of love, Eros's adopted mother- evil, insecure
Alkaios and Astydamia-Psyche's parents
Zeus the Thunderer- king of gods
Atalanta- human huntress who trains Psyche
Iphigenia-Psyche's cousin. Mother and father are Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, was a priestess of Artemis but parents forced her to leave and marry Achilles.

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO
OW/OM/Exes: no
Cheating Before/During/Outside H/h Relationship: no

CONTENT WARNINGS/TRIGGERS: mentions rape, murder, physical abuse (not to H/ h)

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: Luna McNamara
New or read before & any favorites: new

PERSONAL OVERVIEW
Overall Rating: 4
Do You Recommend This Book: yes
Will You Re-read This Book: yes
Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: If you liked The Song of Achilles you will enjoy this. There are even a few scenes with Achilles and Patroclus.

New Vocabulary/beautiful words:
loam-fertile soil of clay, Prometheus shaped first humans from clay.
chiton-long woolen tunic worn in ancient Greece
palanquin - cover used to carry someone used in ancient Greece
apotheosis-the elevation of someone to divine status; deification

With all of the Greek and Roman myth retellings, this one stands out to me as one of the better written ones. While the author admits taking some creative liberties, the story of Psyche and Eros is told in beautiful language that captures the wonder and heartbreak the gods can cause.

Here's the deal. I LOVE a good feminist mythology retelling, but this one was not a good one. There's a complete disregard for the traditional outline of Greek mythology. For example, if Psyhce is the granddaughter of Perseus and Andromeda, then she could not possibly be present at Helen's wedding to Menelaus. It's pretty well established that there were 3 generations of the Perseid dynasty before the line of Atreus, of which Agamemnon and Menelaus were the 2nd generation, so IF Psyche is the granddaughter of Perseus and Andromeda, she could not possibly also be the niece of Agamemnon and Menelaus. That's just one of the MANY plot holes that are basic Greek Mythology 101 type problems. I just prefer when my retellings follow the actual myths and retell them while staying fairly loyal to the source material. This one was not for me.

I loved everything about this book from the cover to the plot. I could have read 3000 more words and been happy. I loved these characters