greek mythology retellings are my kryptonite. I loved this book so much it was such a great take on psyche and eros and written in prose??? so freaking good great perfect

As a huge Greek mythology fan and a queer woman always looking for more LGBTQ+ rep, I was so excited to read The Palace of Eros, especially because Psyche and Eros is one of my favorite myths. I think because of this, I may be coming down a bit harder than the average reader (plus, I am very picky about my retellings), so take all of this with a grain of salt. Because this book really didn't hit for me the way I was hoping it would.

But first: there is a lot to praise in The Palace of Eros, the representation especially. I love this sapphic take on the myth, and I loved nonbinary Eros. I lived for the sections from her POV and the way that De Robertis uses the myth to draw real-world parallels to the confines of the gender binary. Even though, as other reviewers have pointed out, De Robertis's Eros is far from the only nonbinary deity to exist in Greek myth (a definite oversight here), I still liked their take on Eros. The entirety of Part 2: The Palace, was one of my favorite sections because of this. Not only is the spice exquisite, it's authentic and beautifully done. I wish, yet again, there was more traditionally published queer rep like this in the romance sphere. I also liked how the ending shook down; the trials of Psyche were done very nicely, and I like seeing her really come into her own.

But, unfortunately, the rest of the book was kind of a miss. Psyche and Eros's relationship timeline and personal arcs both felt very uneven. They sleep together rather quickly, which is totally fine for me...but they also EMOTIONALLY get together rather quickly. I get that part of the myth is Eros getting shot with their own arrow, but what I didn't love was how fast Psyche also fell in this version. Their relationship does develop nicely during Part 2 and beyond, though. Overall, I felt the second half of the book was far stronger than the first half, which just feels very similar to a lot of other myth retellings up until the midpoint. I also didn't love the writing style. This is 100% a me thing - I hear it being described as poetic and lyrical, which it is, but it does that Maggie O'Farrell Hamnet thing that I call "the rule of threes." You know the thing. "Her arms. Her strong arms. Her muscular arms." Anyway, too much of that thing just totally takes me out of the rhythm of the book. I wish the language had been a bit more edited and spare in places, because when it is, it's actually quite lovely.

I would definitely love to see more queer myth retellings, and I appreciate The Palace of Eros for what it is...but I also wish it had been a little more.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Caro De Robertis for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

💜🪽🏛️ Rating: 4/5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was my first time dipping my toes into the pool of Greek mythology retellings, and I absolutely loved this one! Tbh, queer retellings will always have a special place in my heart, but the way @caro_derobertis wrote this was absolutely incredibly amazingly divine.

The tempestuous beauty Psyche longs for freedom from the shackles of societal expectations. When the nonbinary deity of desire, Eros, falls for her, they whisk her away to a hidden palace of love, defying the gods themselves. In this magical sanctuary, they share nights of passion, but Psyche’s days are clouded with doubt as she yearns for truth and transparency. Her quest for honesty leads to a divine confrontation that reshapes the heavens and redefines the essence of love and freedom.

The narrative was beautifully descriptive while still remaining shimmering and tremulous enough to lend a magical air to the whole thing. While the prose did require me to really focus in some of the denser parts, I found the whole read to be really rewarding and absolutely loved every moment of it. If you liked Circe, The Song of Achilles, or similar retellings but would like to see something from the queer perspective, this is your book!

Thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for providing me this eARC to review, and a special thanks to @caro_derobertis for writing this spectacular piece.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The pacing was perfect, writing was beautiful, and it was such a poetic piece. The language immediately captivated me and I couldn’t put the book down. I will DEFINITELY be purchasing when it releases

This got repetitive in the palace scenes (which maybe was the point as it showed the monotony of psyche’s life) but as soon as she became defiant and stood up for herself they switched povs Like why when a character finally becomes confident and self assured despite the confines of greek society do you switch to someone who does not have to deal with that?? or at least develop eros’ own constraints more they kind of came out of nowhere/were underdiscussed.

Overall pretty good and i was reading another book at the same time and they talked about this myth (which i had actually never read before #FAKEGREEKMYTHOLOGYFAN) in detail and that was cool.

thanks to netgalley and atria books for the arc!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The overall plot and characterizations were gorgeous and I loved the concept of retelling this particular myth because of its potential. However, the prose felt clunky and heavy handed at points and I had a hard time engaging with it at times. Both the beginning and the ending could use some editing, but the middle was very well written.

Overall, 3.5/5 stars

Although I came into this book knowing the story of Psyche and Eros, I can honestly say I was not expecting the way this retelling read.

This novel was more on the poetic side-- sapphic side, in the way the narration was about what the characters were feeling and the celebratory language of love and desire and passion and lust, but also sapphic in the way that the love was written to be between Psyche and Eros, woman to woman.

This book takes on the challenges of gender and society in a mythological way which I think was very creative and enticing. The way Eros' conflict is both with the gods but also within herself is so accurate to modern cases of dysphoria and discrimination. I liked the way De Robertis tackled this complex emotion and experience.

I wish I could actually feel more of the love between Psyche and Eros, however. It just didn't feel believable to me. Much of the passion came from the sex, and the supposed conversations they would have in the night, but I didn't feel that I saw much of any conversation until the very end. I think the relationship needed more developing and less internal monologue of their anxieties.

I think both characters needed further development. Psyche is written at first to be trodden and misfortunate but later during is suddenly astute and quick-witted when there was no mention or showing that earlier in the book. And the way Eros speaks to Psyche is so vague and cliche-- "You are everything", "You are nectar to me"-- it just seemed dramatic and almost like a completely different character. And along with these inconsistencies, there was a part where Pscyhe is telling Eros that her younger sister lives a bad life, even though Psyche is the youngest of the sisters. That took me out of the story immediately.

And just the way the dialogue read in general-- it felt so modern and lengthy. I simply wish there was more world description and less conversation. More prose and less internal thoughts.

Overall, I think this was a bold take on this story. I think everyone knows that the gods were sexual beings but it was really shown in this novel in a raw and open way. I think it might've been a little too stretched out, but it wasn't unbearable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is probably one of my favorite feminist retellings of greek mythology that I have read so far. I loved that Robertis leaned into Eros genderfluiditu and I love that we got to see Pysches reactions to being married to a non-binary person in the ancient greek world. I also really enjoyed Robertis writing style, it was so descriptive and really made me feel like I was in the characters shoes through out the story. The only thing that I sort of side eyed with this book was how willing psyche was to get down and dirty with various household objects but I mean it's an greek mythology retelling so I can't really be shocked.

It's a 4.5 for me, I loved this book so much. I am a huge fan of Madeline Miller's books as well as greek mythology in general and this was a perfect mix for fans of both. The story of Eros and Psyche is probably my favourite of all myths/legends and to see it reimagined in a sapphic retelling was not something I thought I needed but now I need SO MUCH MORE OF. More people need to start writing these types of retellings because greek mythology is so fluid in its stories and so easy to interpret in different ways. I really enjoyed this and I hope to read more from this author in the coming years!

I’ll start with what I liked. The prose was pretty good, though Eros’ dialogue did feel awkwardly modern at times, and it was entertaining.

With that said, this book kind of felt like a slap in the face to Greek mythology fans. One of my favorite things about Greek mythology and what draws me to it is the fact that queerness is normalized, and I am not alone in this. Greek mythology is incredibly popular, specifically amongst queer people, for this reason. Caro De Robertis just decided to ignore this.

Psyche says that “Even outside of marriage, two women could not be together, it was unheard of.” This isn’t true. While Ancient Greece was extremely sexist so we don’t have nearly as many accounts of queer women as queer men, they did exist. Obviously there was the famous lesbian poetess Sappho, but also Plato mentioned in his Symposium women who "do not care for men, but have female attachments"

Furthermore, Eros has the ability to change her body so sometimes she’s female, sometimes male, and sometimes in-between, and for some reason Zeus hates this. He says, “She was born female; to defy that is a crime.” And “when she becomes a man, she must be fully male. None of this in-between, blended nonsense.” There are multiple gender/sex-bendy deities in Greek mythology such as Aphroditus and Hermaphroditus and even more stories of witches or gods changing peoples sexes for one reason or another. WHY does anyone care about Eros doing it. Also they act like Eros is the only lesbian goddess when Artemis is literally right there. And if Zeus found Eros and their relationship so appalling, why did he let Psyche become a god? I just feel like if you wanted to include homo/transphobia in your story why choose Ancient Greece and specifically Ancient Greek deities? Normally making a queer retelling comes with the difficulty of the added homophobia but not here, yet it was added anyway and it made the story make less sense.

I don’t regret reading this, but it was disappointing.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC!

I am a Greek Mythology anything, girlie, and then you make it sapphic?! Sign me up!
-I loved the way that gender and sexuality were explored in this and I thought it was a great take on the Psyche-Eros myth.
-I think this did a a great job of demonstrating the belittling and demeaning reality of women in historical (and let's be honest, current) periods.
-I loved the centering of queer love and joy in this story, and how understanding and embracing your queerness is healing!
-The prose was fluid and elegant.
However, I do definitely agree with other reviewers on here that there could have been more development in the characters, especially Psyche. And the ending didn't really HIT ME, ya know?
Cheers!

Dnf 57%
I loved the author’s first novel. I am grateful to have been given an arc for their second book. The thing that I feared going into this story is that Greek mythology has become so popular that everyone is writing it. I am happy that Greek mythology is getting more attention as it is very interesting but not everyone should write about it. I feel that there’s a certain way one should write about it and not every author can do that. This book did exactly what every author trying to recreate the hype of Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, and Pat Barker. I think De Robertis should focus on historical fiction or contemporary works. Their first novel evoked so many emotions but this called flat. The plot went exactly how I thought it would which wouldn’t be an issue if the events happening were entertaining.

stories in Greek mythology have been told and re-told countless times in my lifetime alone, but this one is by far my favorite (Sorry, TSOA). I could be biased because it's a sapphic re-telling, but that's not the end-all be-all of its appeal, and that much is made clear from the very beginning: it's also a commentary on women's place in society, which unfortunately is still reflected in the society we live in today. it's a loud protest filled with a woman's rage, it's a quiet validation filled with a woman's desire.

In short, it's a story by a woman, for women. It couldn't be any simpler than that. This is where the triumph of the book lies.

notes on its structure: its pace is slow, but unlike the other classic novels that feel like trudging through thick mud, this one feels like languorously swimming through fresh honey. Could also just be because the syntax is far easier to resonate with than other archaic classic novels' of course, but the fact remains the same: it's incredibly sloooooow, but in a good way, as in, it's clear that it's intended to be told in that pace. i always like when the pace of a novel matches what the story calls for, and this one accomplishes that too.

that said, i did have to put this novel down several times so i could come back to it with a renewed readiness to drown, but if you have higher tolerance for meandering prose, you could probably read it all in one go.

ok now for the juicy part: you're probably wondering, as i have, if Eros and Psyche are as doomed in this re-telling as they've always been in the original version of the story, or if you'll read a subversion of it somewhere? i'll admit i didn't really know much of what happened beyond the bittersweet ending of the original story between Psyche and Eros: spoilering in case you don't remember how their story ended and don't wish to remember it before reading this novel <spoiler>Psyche disobeys Eros and shines a light upon her form, which in turn shatters the veil which keeps the two of them hidden from the rest of the other gods. from what i remember this is where the story ends, sort of like a tale of doomed love, cos like what love, hidden from the rest of the world, could survive? </spoiler> so im glad to see it continue afterward.

for all my commentary on this novel's slow pace, i got surprised towards the end when i was hurtling through Part III, paused to check the page number, and found that there were only 30 pages left in the novel?! and lo and behold the next page announces Part IV, which is the shortest, sweetest part of all.

thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Queer Retelling of Eros and Psyche? This sounded like a dream book.

Psyche, the youngest daughter of three, is so beautiful that she captures the attention of everyone around. Men flock to her home to view her, enraging Aphrodite. In retaliation, Aphrodite employs Eros to shoot Psyche with one of their arrows so that she falls in love with the most vile man. Instead, Eros falls for Psyche, taking her to a recluse palace to become her "husband" instead.

I loved the relationship between Psyche and Eros. Watching Psyche come into terms of her sexuality and understanding of Gender was a joy to see. Eros, non-binary with a certain magic that allows them to shift their body between the genders, loves her wholeheartedly. I did feel in Psyche's chapters she was simply...there, especially in the scenes where she's in the palace away from Eros. As for Eros, I really enjoyed their chapters. Seeing their interactions with the Gods and then Psyche herself.

While I enjoyed this retelling - there was something that fell flat for me. The writing is so beautiful, but I feel that I wanted a bit more from the character development and plot.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

a sapphic horny retelling of greek mythology?? um YES. I absolutely could not put this book down. I love the way that there was gender play and openness with sexuality in a way that could only be described as FREE

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of "The Palace of Eros.
Really 3.5 stars

I love greek mythology!
This book did such a great job with representation! The characters were likable and I loved the retelling aspect.
The only thing I would change was how long all of the chapters were and some paragraphs felt purely fluff.

Cantoras is one of my favorite novels, so I was thrilled to receive an early review copy of The Palace of Eros. For anyone who keeps Cantoras close to their heart, you will find the same lush and gorgeous sentences, and a similar contemplation of the way society and its politics can change characters' lives.

However, in The Palace of Eros, Caro De Robertis is focused on the mythological. They take a very interesting approach to these characters: on the one hand, the book eschews the compression of mythology. The story also does not give them the full complexities of characters, the way, for instance, Cantoras gave its protagonists. Instead, The Palace of Eros works in a liminal space between these two, using the perspectives of Psyche and Eros to examine the reality of life for women, nonbinary people, and gods. This book stakes out its own space in storytelling, and while I didn't think it was completely successful, I really enjoyed the book, both its sweeping arcs and the beautiful moments that were studded like gems throughout its pages.

De Robertis has said that the focus of The Palace of Eros is focused on queer love and queer joy, and I think at this, the book certainly succees.

I will certainly be recommending The Palace of Eros to fellow readers, and am excited for the book to find its audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance review copy of The Palace of Eros in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of "The Palace of Eros." This book is a captivating reimagining of a classic myth, and I couldn't put it down!

Caro De Robertis takes the familiar story of Psyche and Eros and weaves a spellbinding tale that's both deeply romantic and fiercely feminist. It's more than just a love story; it's a journey of self-discovery and defying societal expectations. I loved the exploration of themes like desire, beauty, identity, and the power of free will, as well as the gender-fluid representation.

P.S. This book is spicy, be prepared for some steamy scenes.

Actually rated 3.75
This book is about Psyche and Eros, who are both very cute, to be honest. Psyche really only has her mother who truly loves her, with a cruel father and two older sisters. Her beauty is envied and draws the attention of Aphrodite who won’t stand for competition. She sends her daughter Eros to get rid of the threat but instead Eros sees a scared girl who yearns to be free. And so a romance starts…. The only rule is that Psyche cannot gaze upon the face of Eros and they can only meet at night.

I liked this book overall. I thought the gender identity of Eros was beautifully written and the romance between her and Psyche was full of sexual tension. I liked the storyline regarding not seeing each other and Psyche struggling with loving Eros but feeling trapped. However, there was something missing between them that I can’t put my finger on. I also felt like we should’ve seen more groveling from Eros lol. The ending didn’t quite HIT like I wanted.

However, I really did enjoy this story and would recommend it to people that like romances set among Greek mythology!! And who like some exploration of gender and sexuality within their romance stories.

The only thing I love more than Greek Mythology is a modern retelling. I especially love retellings which give voice to historically marginalized perspectives or highlight social injustice and inequality. After spending a semester studying LGBTQ+ history in the context of Ancient Greece, I was thrilled to stumble across this queer retelling.

Caro De Robertis transformed this infamous story into a thought provoking poem which effortlessly encompasses difficult discussions of gender, sexuality, self-identity, pleasure, feminism, patriarchy, and discrimination (just to name a few). Despite the extent of these discussions, the original story was not diluted or deteriorated. De Robertis’s harmonious integration of social injustice into the storyline is incredibly inconspicuous and leaves the reader questioning how the story was ever narrated prior to this retelling. Personally, I love the characterization of Eros as a non-binary deity exploring and embracing their gender fluidity. I feel as though this characterization adds a dimension and understanding which is not achievable through the myth’s original telling.

The most notable aspect of this novel is its intense imagery and lyrical pose. I quickly found myself highlighting quote after quote, as if I was instead reading a textbook containing the content of an upcoming exam. With all that said, I did slightly struggle with the middle of the book. Personally, I felt as though this aspect was slightly drawn-out and repetitive. At the same time, I feel as though this might have been a conscious and creative decision by the author to tangibly convey Psyche’s experience to the reader. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read which I would definitely recommend to other readers who enjoy modern retellings of Greek myths, diverse and/or queer literature, or themes of social inequality and injustice.

I would rate this read 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the opportunity to access an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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Positionality statement: I do not identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Consequently, I do not claim to have a comprehensive understanding of this experience. Additionally, I recognize that lived experiences of marginalization, oppression, and disenfranchisement are unique to the individual and the lived experience of an individual may not be accurately portrayed through a summative, community perspective. With that said, my current graduate studies are concentrated in LGBTQ+ Health. Giving LGBTQ+ voices and experiences a platform in effort to identify and address disparities is a focus of my work.