<b> <I> Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “Psyche & Eros” by Luna McNamara in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.</I> </b>

<b> Overall rating: </b> 4 out of 5 stars

<b> My review: </b>
I was so excited to get approved for this because I love retellings of Psyche and Eros. We always get Hades and Persephone. Psyche and Eros is actually my preferred greek retelling! For those of you who are familiar with the myth, this story does stray from it though I enjoyed that. I did like how the author made Psyche a warrior. The writing was wonderful.

<b> If you liked the following, you will probably like this book: </b>
- Ithica
- Lore
- Any other Greek retellings leaning on the romance side

I'm not a big fan of Greek Mythology. I wanted to give it another try when I saw this book available for request.
And while it wasn't my favorite I do think others will enjoy Psyche and Eros. It was a fun and fresh take on Greek Mythology and the cover itself will have readers falling for it!

I really really enjoyed this book. I have read eros and psyche retellings but they have been modernized and this was set in the greek mythology timeframe. I really loved being able to read about where they both started, how they came to be together, and the trials they went through to get back to each other again. It was paced very well and beautifully written. I am honestly so in love with their story!! The author included other gods and titans in this storyline as well and how they partook in eros and psyche's story. I loved how she intertwined what was going on in the mortal world throughout the book as well. All together, a really great story that pays tribute to eros and psyche. If you love greek mythology, you will love this!

Psyche and Eros is a captivating story about finding and fighting for true love.

One of my favourite tales when studying Greek mythology was Psyche and Eros. It is one of the few tales that actually have a happy ending for the heroine in the story. I truly loved what Luna did with the tale of Psyche and Eros. She took their story and made it her own while still staying true to the original myth. This book reads like many Greek mythologies I have read before, but with some modern-day humour. This story has quests, battles, betrayals, and so much god and goddess drama. It is so fabulous.

The original story of Psyche and Eros is very short, which is why I loved reading this book so much because it felt like I got to know these characters on a deeper level. Luna breathes so much life into the characters of Psyche and Eros and gives them these larger-than-life personalities. This story is told from both Psyche's and Eros's POVs. For the first quarter of the book, these two characters don't meet. Psyche spends her childhood training to become a warrior, and Eros tries to find his place and purpose in this changing world. Psyche is impulsive, headstrong, and reckless. She doesn't want to be married off to some man and only be valved for her ability to bare his children. All she wants is to become a hero. Eros has a lot of those typical qualities. Greek gods and goddesses have. He is selfish, narcissistic, and doesn't know what to make of the humans. But he does have a kind heart. I enjoyed spending time with these characters separately and as a couple. It was great watching them grow as a person or god and realize that they truly love one another and would do anything to be together.

Luna also weaves other mythological characters and stories in this book. We get to meet other characters like Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Odysseus. It was so much fun bumping into all these characters and seeing where they are in their own myths. For example, we first meet Helen when she marries the King Menelaus of Sparta. Something she is not too thrilled about. Later on, Helen is abducted by Paris of Troy, which sets the beginning of the Trojan Wars. Adding these details adds so much richness and entertainment to the overall story. The gods and goddesses are exactly like you think they would be. They are spoiled and easily angered, and they always seem to be doing schemes against each other. I loved all the drama they brought to this book.

Fans of Greek mythology will really enjoy Luna McNamara's retelling of Psyche and Eros.

Thank you, Harper Collins Canada, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Your child will conquer a monster feared by the gods themselves."

Psyche and Eros is an standalone adult romantic fantasy following a retelling of the Greek myth, Psyche and Eros. Psyche, a princess raised to be a warrior, has always anticipated greatness in her life. A prophecy bestowed upon her always in the periphery to remind her something more exists for her. Yet there is one Greek god rife with jealousy and she sends Eros to bestow a curse on Psyche...except through a series of happenstances the curse afflicts him and suddenly a mortal and a god are forced together down a path that questions what are the many meanings of love and how far should one go in their quest for answers.

I went into this novel quite blind and I felt this aided my enjoyment in the story. I knew the story of Psyche and Eros but was pleasantly surprised with how this book took their journey and enriched it to create flawed and engaging characters. Psyche is a traditional female heroine - she yearns to prove herself and has lived a privileged life in many regards. She is often contrasted with her cousins to show this divide and think it helped show the naivety she has early on in the book. She tends to accept things without question but as the story progresses we do see her start to inquire which I appreciated. She is willful and depicted as a warrior and we get glimpse of this in her bravery, especially towards the second half of the book.

Eros is a character that falls on a fine line for me. He is meddlesome and somewhat selfish but Psyche changes him over the course of their relationship. He may be a god but there is a lot he fails to really understand. He often provided humour though his observations of the mortal realm and I think that is what kept in enjoying his POV. Although, I did question his motivations in a few areas. His relationship with Persephone, Aphrodite, Zephyr, Eris, and more help round him out a bit and I like the relationships we saw. One thing that has always resonated with me in Greek mythology in the humanness to the gods and I felt Eros and his "family" were able to show this.

This book has a little bit of spice - I would say 1 spicy pepper out of five spicy peppers but it is a very small one. There is one specific scene but it isn't very graphic and any additional references are made casually and without exposition. Instead we focus on the relationships building here.

If love was a weapon, I would wield it well.

The story and world of this book is set in a world I am familiar worth - the world of the Trojan war. Exposition is used to provide the background in the initial chapter and then gradually we see Psyche filling in gaps as we navigate the world. I do wish there was more showing than telling but the refreshers did help me feel more connected to the story. I found the story was digestible and something I could easily dive into. Admittedly I found some aspects of the plot a little confusing (as in I didn't full accept or understand the character's motivations) but I was able to push through with little resistance. The romance is light but adds some freshness to the story. The beginning is slow but we move into a more epic-style story with action and quests that is befitting of a truth myth. Overall, did this story wow me? No. Did it keep me engaged for hours? Yes.

If you enjoy Greek myths and retellings I feel this book will give you want you are looking for. I thought overall it kept me focused and reading with characters that intrigued me and a plot that didn't require too much overthinking but just enough tension and funny characters to keep me for the ride. Definitely a book to check out or add to your TBR!

Thank you William Morrow Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

Note: spoiler TW pregnancy trope is present

I am not very familiar with Psyche and Eros's myth, but I enjoy fantasy romance, and this book satisfied my romance-loving heart. It's a love story between Psyche, a mortal girl, and an immortal Eros, the god of desire. Their love story was captivating. I liked Psyche a little bit more than Eros. His character is a bit one-dimensional because, as a god, he is perfect (with no complexity). Psyche's character is more nuanced.

I've seen reviews stating this is not an accurate retelling, but it didn't bother me. I don't mind reading loose interpretations of popular myths and stories. Sometimes it's nice to read a fresh spin on a familiar story. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to fans of Greek mythology and fantasy romance readers.

A beautiful re-telling of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. Full of magic, mystery and heroics, this story did not disappoint. Eros was tasked with cursing Psyche on Aphrodite's order. Instead, he ends up cursing himself and falls irrevocably in love w/ Psyche. Unfortunately, if they look into each others' eyes they will be torn from each other. Of course this happens and then we get to see how far these lovers will go to get back to one another. And we also get to find out if it's really love or the curse of Cupid's arrow. I especially loved how quite a few Greek tales were woven into the fabric of this story.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this e-arc.*

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early!

In a literary world seemingly over saturated by classical and mythological retellings, this upcoming book stands out. Filled to the brim with all you would want from a classical retelling—epic in scope and lyrical prose—while also infused with wit and modernity. I loved this classical tale of star-crossed lovers told in a new (and feminist) light and any fans of retellings will be sure to fall in love with these characters as well.

Charming, fast-paced, and heart wrenching, I was hooked.

Unfortunately for me this book was a mess. It twisted the tale of Psyche and Eros and not in a good way. I did finish it but I should have just DNFed it.

Eros is going to be our newest book boyfriend :D


If you like...

- mythology retellings
- dual POV
- kickass FMC's
- Greek heros and Greek gods

... then you are going to LOVE this book

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

The last Psyche & Eros retelling I read was Katee Robert’s. This version, written by Luna McNamara, is quite different in execution.

While there is a romance, for me the most successful part of this story is just in the retelling itself, with the romance present but subsumed to the arc of the myth. There is little emotional intimacy, for example.

But there is an intriguing tale of a fated warrior legend—Psyche—a ticked off goddess, Aphrodite, & a god who curses himself with love & who has a lot to learn about the subject of his spell.

The plot moves along from one moment of tension to another, as Psyche & Eros both journey to great lengths to save each other. For me, the best part of the story is in Psyche’s realization about heroism & what actions the stories of heroes are based on.

In the end, Psyche & Eros is a quietly affecting retelling of the myth, great for people who want a story of growth & devotion, with a happy ending for the pair.

4⭐️. Out now!

CWs: death, imprisonment, violence. Reference to slaves, to rape, & suicide.

[ID: Jess's white hand holds the ebook over a lawn. In the background are a blue sky, trees, and to the right, a chicken coop.]

Feminist retellings of ancient myths are all the rage these days. I love a good retelling of a classic story, but I’ve found myself bored with all the feminist greek myth retellings that have been published over the last several years. It seems like every book is desperately trying to recreate the song of Achilles. This book was no exception. It was beautifully written, but nothing exciting

If you're interested in Greek mythology and retellings, I'd say this book is definitely worth a read. While I don't know that I'd say it's one of the better ones that I've read it's one of a lesser talked about myth and pretty well done.

This book is absolute magic. My bookstore is so excited about it that we have paired with a sweet shop for a pre-order campaign. We CANNOT wait.

This was such a great mythological retelling and it was on point! The writing style the author used was engaging and kept me entertained from the first to the last page! Amazing retelling of one of my favorite classical story!

If you like your Greek Mythology retellings to be copy and pasted from the original sources, then you will not like this one. If you don't mind some creative liberties and a parade of "who's who" in Greek Mythology, then you might enjoy this one!

I thought some of the changes were more interesting and effective than others, but what I really enjoyed about this was the writing. I highlighted multiple passages and phrases that were effortless and interesting. I also liked how sensual it was (after spending a lot of time consuming myth content appropriately censored for children, it's nice to have one for an adult sensibilities). It's still relatively tame, but it scratched that itch for me. The whole we share-a-bed-but-you-can't-see-my-face dynamic is ripe for a compelling love story.

I don't think this will be one of the Greek Myth retellings I'll return to often, it was pleasant to read, even with its quirks.

Admittedly I was not super well versed in the story of Psyhe and Cupid, or Eros as he is styled in this novel, prior to receiving the ARC, however I still found the changes the author chose to make early in the book fairly annoying.

Psyche is born an only child in this version, and allowed to become a "warrior", trained by Atalanta. Her father is the oldest brother of Agammemnon and Menelaus and son of Perseus and therefore this story overlaps with the story of the Trojan War, a change that honestly I felt was completely unnecessary. There have been a flood of books about the Trojan War in the last several years and I felt it added nothing to this particular book. The beginning of this book had so many changes made to the original story that I was initially put off and unsure I would enjoy this retelling.

For me, I enjoyed the perspective of Eros and his discussion of the evolution of Gods and humanity over time and his place as a primordial being. Once the book got to the point where Psyche and Eros meet and embark on their relationship together, the book really picks up. Her trials to break the curse and free Eros are only in the last 30% of the novel and from there it quickly ends.

With this mixed bag, I'm rating this book 3.5 stars but rounding down for the excessive changes that seem unnecessary to me.

Thank you to Book Club Girl, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Psyche and Eros has always been a "no notes" story that I thought could really benefit from a modern retelling to add more sweeping depth and emotion to their timeless love story. I had high expectations for this novel, especially once I started getting acquainted with the author's voice. Her writing style felt very much in line with the other Greek myth retellings by some of my favorite authors.

However, I really didn't see a reason for most of the artistic choices the author took in changing the narrative of the story. Not giving Psyche her two sisters and fleshing out their complex relationship (which all families could relate to) and instead making her a tough tomboy trained by Atalanta and the cousin of Iphegenia, Agamemnon's daughter. Making her sort of abrasive in character so her arc can be to become well-loved when she was supposed to be that from the beginning. Including a whole extra storyline about the Trojan war that just didn't need to exist. Not building more of Psyche and Eros's relationship so it could feel deep and epic, like it's supposed to.

I think if you're not familiar with the original story, you'll enjoy this. But if you're a fan of the original, steer clear of this.

Lyrical and lovely! This is a thoughtful and intriguing updating of the Psyche myth. Psyche has a strong voice and an interesting emotional journey. I enjoyed Eros a lot, though I felt like his voice dropped out a lot more later in the book, and I discovered that I missed it.

I broadly enjoyed how McNamara wove other stories in as well, though the Trojan War element did feel somewhat extraneous. I think I might not have felt as much that way if there'd been more payoff. I could see the thematic harmonies and how the stories were in conversation with each other, but they didn't feel fully synthesized. The Demeter, Persephone, and Atalanta elements felt more fully resonant.

I love how many Greek retellings are out right now! Happy to add this one to my favorites. I love even more than we get new versions of not only Psyche and Eros, but Cupid as well!