Greek mythology retellings are most definitely not my go-to genre. I often find myself lost if I’m not given enough context clues, but I’m quickly finding that every time I read one, I’m thoroughly enjoying learning about this setting, especially retellings that have a feminist twist to them.

Palace of Eros is about another Greek goddess that I was previously unfamiliar with, Eros, who is the daughter of Aphrodite. She builds a palace hidden from the eyes of her mother and Zeus so that she can be who she is with her lover, though there are restrictions that she must live under to keep the palace hidden.

The romance was beautifully written, with some alternating POV from Psyche and Eros, and within these, there’s important history of the gods embedded. This didn’t get the full five stars from me because there were parts that were pretty tedious and dragged, and the overall plot was pretty lackluster but still enjoyed the overall experience.

This was a well-written, lyrical sapphic/queer take on the myth of Eros and Psyche. I only had a vague recollection of their tale going into this, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story - which actually made me think of Beauty and the Beast several times.

I liked the way the story played with gender and relationships. It was fun to see how the other Greek characters were woven in. The writing was the highlight for me and really made the story flow.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I found The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis to be a lyrical and bold retelling of the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche. The story delves into themes of love, gender identity, and self-discovery through a queer and feminist perspective, which I found compelling. As a fan of both Greek myth retellings and queer narratives, this book was right up my alley. While the prose occasionally bordered on overly elaborate, slowing the pace with lengthy descriptions, much of the writing was beautiful. I think those who appreciate a more flowery writing style would enjoy this book even more. The shift between third-person POV for Eros and first-person POV for Psyche was initially jarring, but I got used to it over time. Like many other reviewers, I found the beginning and end to be stronger than the middle, but overall, I enjoyed the read.

I don't know how to feel about this book. I have rated it the way it is because while it is a very good book, I did not enjoy it. I was very excited about the premise, but found myself a bit let down. Perhaps that is my fault.

This book is very well written. It is a very interesting exploration of gender, sexuality, and woman empowerment. I enjoyed the use of Persephone's original myth as opposed to more modern versions. I enjoyed the discussion of the gender issues this version of Eros dealt with. I think there is great merit to the discussion of a woman's pleasure.

However. I was very disappointed the story skimmed over what I always found the most interesting part of the myth, Psyche's trials, skipping one entirely and barely covering another, I think that is by far the most interesting part, Psyche's mission to prove herself. Instead the novel focuses on the actions in the palace, and while as I mentioned before there was merit in the exploration of Psyche discovering her sexuality, that it is okay, and there is things to say about women being able to seek pleasure in a patriarchal society, I was bored. I was bored that the first 60% of the book felt like it was predominantly Psyche and Eros having sex in various ways. I found myself slogging through this section to get to what I was interested in, the trials, only to have them barley featured and rushed through.

Overall, again, it was a good book and well written, but I was bored and disappointed by it. I recommend it if you enjoy that kind of sexual content, but not if you enjoy the part of the myth with Psyche overcoming her trials.

Gender fluidity in the context of a Greek goddess! Personally, I’m not a huge Greek mythology person, so my reviews will never be about how accurate this type of retelling is.

All I know is that the story had me hooked, their romance was so unique, and there was all the typical Greek gore going on around them. Content warning for sexual assault and domestic violence, just not between the two main characters.

Since I know nothing about Greek mythology, I wasn’t sure how this was going to end! I enjoyed the ending and appreciated the many conflicts that came from the two main characters wanting to be together.

This book was perfectly paced. Obviously a completely different story, but I think if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles I think you’d also enjoy this! Would recommend. :) I think the author really captures the misogyny of Greek Gods and refutes that with the characters she’s written. This is definitely written in what I would call a feminist lens — which I loved!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this book in exchange for an honest review.

As I start to think about the overall reading of this book, I understand more and more that it’s told with such love and respect for these two characters. This was my first time reading anything by De Robertis and thought I am late to the “party” I am happy to have arrived nonetheless.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book.

This is a beautiful queer retelling of Psyche and Eros! Psyche is wanted by everyone, Eros is a non-binary immortal who wants nothing to do with their mothers request. I loved this take on this story!

A refreshing view of sexuality and gender set in the distant and imagined path and yet holding hope for the future. The reader is beautifully transported to Olympus to meet gods and defy them. Five stars.

This author cannot write a bad sentence, not even a mediocre one. The book is entrancing from the start. I never liked mythology so I had almost zero knowledge about the original tale prior to reading Palace of Eros. Instead, I read it simply as a story told by one of my favorite authors.

Psyche is a stunningly beautiful woman who draws male suitors from far and wide, many calling her even more wondrous than Aphrodite. The goddess is of course insulted and sends her daughter, Eros, to take revenge against the mortal woman. Eros is to shoot her arrow and send Psyche into the arms of the most evil and ugly man that can be found. But as soon as Eros sees Psyche, Eros spirals headlong into love and defies the world to make Psyche hers.

The first half of the book is a golden-tongued love story. I enjoyed the alternate pov’s between the two main characters, watched their no holds barred passion and lust build into a sexual fervor that also held a sweet tenderness. I want to add that Eros here is both a woman and a man. It’s such an important point because Eros fights to be in control of her own body and spirit, at times, violently at odds with the gods because of being both. As the story moves on, a struggle emerges, not only between the two lovers and the gods and goddesses on Olympia, but most importantly, Psyche battles to claim her own life and destiny. To not be beholden to the might of the powerful. To not have to answer to men. I’m sure the story is meant to reflect the strength and vulnerability of women during these times, the fight of individuals to own their identities, and the passages stay true to those themes. But throughout the story, I remained invested in seeing what happened to Psyche and Eros as well. I have no clue if this book stays true to the original myth but once again, this author has written a thoughtful and engaging story.

This subversive Eros and Psyche mythical retelling centers the nonbinary experience in the mythological world so tenderly. Caro's writing is immersive and just so beautiful. This book edged on erotica, but ultimately served as a beautiful metaphor. I loved how the story so clearly followed the original myth while subverting it so entirely. This was all possible due to Caro's effective and precise prose.

This book was beautiful and ethereal. Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and other books in a similar vein. I love Greek myth, and this was no exception.

This is a beautifully written, sapphic and feminist retelling of the myth of Psyche & Eros. There was a lot of discourse about gender & gender roles. I loved how strong both MCs were and enjoyed the changes that De Robertis added to make the myth her own. If you are looking to read more diverse books/authors, this is a perfect choice!

This book was amazing. The writing was lyrical and poetic, and the narrator (who is also the author!) did an excellent job bringing the characters to life and telling the story.

I love Greek retellings, and this queer retelling of Eros and Psyche is a must read for any fans of Greek mythology.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and a free ALC of the audiobook from LibroFM. All opinions are my own!

Thank you for the ARC to de Robertis and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Wanted for her beauty and despised by a jealous Aphrodite, Psyche lives a hard life where she is also seen as an object and not a person. Eros is sent by Aphrodite, her mother, to curse Psyche to fall in love with the worst man she sees, to curse her to marry a monster. However, when Eros sets eyes upon her, she instantly falls in love and takes her for her own, hiding her in a special palace built specifically for this purpose to hide them and their budding love from the eyes of the other gods, but only as long as Psyche never sees Eros in the light.

As a Queer retelling of the classic myth, much of the story itself is left untouched, but Eros is genderqueer, for desire is older than any categories or boxes, older even then Zeus and the gods of Mount Olympus. I feel that de Robertis makes some really interesting and unique decisions with this that serve as an excellent commentary on the gender/sex binary and our perceptions. Likewise, since Eros uses she/her pronouns and more feminine features, it serves to comment on how, due to misogyny, women and their desires are looked down upon and the defying of societal norms by allowing two female-presenting persons being married in a society where this was unheard of.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and transphobia and queerphobia

In a brutal world of men and gods, a young woman resigns herself to death but instead embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the arms of a goddess, unbeknownst to her.
Yet, loving a goddess is not without complications. Eros casts a shrouding spell to hide her relationship with Psyche from the other gods, specifically her mother Aphrodite, and to keep it intact, only visits under the cover of night. She makes Psyche promise never to bring light into their bedchamber or ask for her identity. With no explanation, Psyche wonders who her "husband" really is.
I love this non-binary sapphic version of Eros. I think I am also in love with her. Sigh.
They have lots of sex and a bit of talking and grow to have a deep connection. Psyche, with her newfound inner strength, begins to feel unsettled about a relationship hidden in darkness. Choices are made, conflicts arise, and Psyche and Eros learn more about themselves and each other through the struggle.
This sapphic, feminist retelling of Psyche and Eros is sensual and empowering. What does it mean to be allowed to want? To embrace one's power of self? What does it mean to be free?
Most of the story is in first-person perspective from Psyche's point of view. I didn't find her the most compelling individual, but I did enjoy her stream of consciousness as she puzzled out her unusual circumstances. I did love seeing things from Eros's point of view.
The writing style is a bit wordy. The author is blunt in presenting the brutality and carnal nature of gods and man as they paint a picture of Psyche's and Eros's world. I felt anger, sadness, and joy, so the author did her job. I enjoyed this unique glimpse into Greek mythology with a twist. I would be interested in reading more by this author.
#greekmythology #sapphic #feminist #HEA #olympus #Aphrodite

The Palace of Eros is a painfully beautiful story of a goddess who falls in love with a mortal woman. The two have a secret love affair, visiting each other only in darkness. Until one day when Psyche betrays Eros, and they must both undergo trials to try and make their way back to each other, unless the fates have other plans.

This book was beautifully written. The Palace of Eros is a compelling story, and De Robertis’ retelling with queer and feminist elements is refreshing.

There were several lines in this book that were highlight worthy. I do think the story dragged just a little bit in the palace, but I understand why we needed to become invested in the love story.

*The Palace of Eros* by Caro De Robertis is a lush tapestry woven with threads of desire, identity, and the sacred dance of human connection. De Robertis crafts a world where every word pulses with life, where the boundaries between self and other dissolve into a tender exploration of what it means to love, to yearn, to inhabit the spaces of our deepest longings.

The novel sweeps you into its embrace with prose that is at once sensual and profound, echoing with the rhythms of ancient myths while grounded in the raw realities of contemporary existence. De Robertis writes with a grace that is almost tactile, as if each sentence is an offering, a ritual in the temple of the heart. The characters move through this narrative with a dreamlike quality, their emotions vivid and aching, yet always tinged with a sense of the ephemeral.

There is a fluidity in *The Palace of Eros* that mirrors the fluidity of love itself—a love that transcends gender, transcends time, and in its most potent moments, transcends the very body. De Robertis captures this with an artistry that is both daring and delicate, inviting readers to question their own boundaries and to surrender to the mysteries of the human spirit.

This is a novel that lingers long after the final page, like a whispered secret or a lover's touch. It is a celebration of the erotic, not merely in its physical form, but as a force that shapes and defines our lives, our relationships, and our very sense of self. *The Palace of Eros* is a triumph, a work of art that invites us to enter its halls, to lose ourselves in its beauty, and to emerge transformed.

As someone who loves any retelling of Greek myths—especially when they are queer—I was so excited to read The Palace of Eros. I thought this myth had such great potential and the description sounded incredible. Unfortunately, I found myself let down by the novel.

My two biggest complaints were on the actual writing style itself, rather than the plot. I actually enjoyed the plot and wanted to dive a little deeper, to be honest. But first—the pacing felt incredibly off to me. I simultaneously felt like we were going too slow but then, wen it came to the emotional relationship between Psyche and Eros, I felt the audience hadn't actually been given enough to justify the intensity in emotions. I keep waiting to dive into that aspect but it felt like we were just jumping from the sexual physical aspect to all of a sudden, Psyche was talking about love. It just felt out-of-place—even for a Greek myth.

The second part was the prose. Make no mistake—Caro De Robertis had moments of gorgeous writing, that had the lyricism of oral epics. But, othertimes there were blocks on blocks of writing on the pages; it made certain aspects harder to digest and work through. And in those instances, the writing itself often felt clunky and forced. Instead of flowing from a Muse, it felt like we were trying to make these words work in an imitation.

I think this will definitely appeal to a good portion of readers, but I was just hoping for more.

(2/5) I was really excited for a queer adaptation of Eros & Psyche’s tale, but I felt that it fell flat. It felt too modernized, despite being set in ancient times. Some of the language felt like overkill and made chunks of the book hard to read. To be fair, I was already incredibly familiar with the myth, so I may have set standards for this book that it could have never reached, but I wished I loved this book more than I did. I also thought that the perspective switches were a little off-putting and confusing. I wished the author implemented character names in chapter titles instead of simply switching from first person to third person. Additionally, I was a little surprised with how strictly gender roles were projected onto ancient greek times, considering that homosexuality was accepted and also they were literally gods. I understand that Zeus can be a little wack, but I feel like shapeshifting gods should have been the least of his concerns, maybe that’s just me.

Ohhh I really liked this novel. In a lot of ways I feel like it was written just for me, like De Robertis crawled in my mind and poetically transcribed the cosmic ooze of my thoughts. I liked the twists and edits they made to the original myth, which was surprising to me as someone who adores this myth and in many ways is hyperprotective of it. (I HATED a novel that came out within the last year that tried to tackle this story.) While I occasionally had issues with the passing or the blocks of dialogue, I could always understand the authorial intent behind those choices. The characterization of our cast felt honest and true, De Robertis made them all feel whole. All I can think about now is how I would really love a physical copy of this to annotate to my hearts content.