DNF @ 48%

No rating, this started out pretty good, but it kind of took a step to the left and went from erotica/romance to slightly weird, and a little uncomfortable, and 100% not romantic.

"You're just a little mouse, waiting for a lion..."

I can't claim to be au-fait with the actual story of Cupid and Psyche, but if this book is an interpretation of it then although well written, really not one I want to know anymore about.

A shame because the blurb is what intrigued me, but just a little too much emphasis on titillation and not enough of everything else for me at the point I stopped reading.

ARC provided in exchange for the above review.

As a long time lover of mythology, I went into this story knowing a bit about the tale of the beautiful Psyche and her rather amazing adventures. This version is definitely for the more mature audience, even though this mythological tale has always been somewhat sexual – Zenobia Neil’s interpretation of this romance definitely captures the sensuous and forbidden side of this classic romance.

Psyche Unbound gives us a fascinating, sensuous re-telling of this classic tale of love, jealousy and betrayal. You have enough of the basics in the Cover Description of this novel to know if you want to pick this one up or not.. and I sincerely hope that you will. It is a well written, enticing and thought provoking story.

Tule Publishing has rather recently introduced their Eros line of erotic romance. I am definitely looking forward to what Zenobia Neil offers us next time.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

While this was an interesting look into Greek mythology, it wasn't the best book I've read. The story was stilted at times and Psyche's devotion to Cupid was unrealistic.

Psyche Unbound by Zenobia Neil is a sensuous retelling of the mythological tale of Psyche and the God Cupid. A forbidden love affair between God and woman.

Princess Psyche, whose beauty is so compelling that her kingdom begins to worship her instead of the Goddess Venus, finds herself left naked on a beach, a sacrifice for the insult to the Goddess. Venus is a jealous and bitter Goddess and has decided that Psyche shall be sacrificed to a monster, given to him to do with as he will. To rape her, to beat her, to kill her. A just punishment to Psyche and her kingdom for their hubris.

The God Cupid, son of Venus and the Mars the God of War, is sent to collect the Princess and deliver her to the monster who will devour her. He flies in, golden with spread open and beautiful wings and Psyche is instantly in entranced with the God. A virgin who has been kept away from anyone who could spoil her, Psyche finds herself instantly attracted to the beautiful God, her body responding in ways she had never felt. Cupid, himself, sees how this Princess and her beauty could bring out the vicious jealousy of his mother. He leaves Psyche in a great palace, awaiting the fate of whatever the monster will bring.

In the Palace, she is fed, bathe and prepared for the monster. But all she can think of is the God Cupid, how beautiful he was and the feelings that overcame her as she clung to him in flight. She is blindfolded and tied to a bed, awaiting her fate. What she finds instead is that the monster is gentle and treats her kindly, introducing her into the realms of love and sex. The monster agrees to marry her but only on the condition that when he visits her, she must never see his face for she would find him horrible. But Psyche is unable to hide her curiosity and steals a glance at her lover only to find him to be the God Cupid. Angry at he betrayal, Cupid banishes her from his palace and sends her back to her homeland. Psyche, miserable and in love, begs the Goddess Venus to return her to Cupid her lover. But the Goddess Venus remembers Psyche and her insult to Venus. Instead she puts before her three tasks, if she ever wishes to see Cupid again, Psyche must complete three impossible tasks or die and be sent to the Underworld forever.

Psyche Unbound is a sexy sand erotic read that is short short on romance. Though it seems to be a one sided romance for much of the tale. Psyche is a novice at both love and sex but quickly learns the pleasure and the pain of both. Betrayed by her own family, she loses the once chance at love she thought she could ever have. After all, what man could ever measure up to Cupid the God of Love? Her struggle to find her way back to him creates a heroine of mythic proportions. The tasks set before her by the Goddess Venus are much like those set before Hercules. But Psyche is no demi-God. She is only human and a woman at that. Venus expects her to fail and die, but Psyche's love for Cupid drives her on, into the very depths of Hades.

A tale that should be read for the story itself and not for the passages of erotica though they are very well done as well.

Psyche Unbound was a completely different reading experience. Steeped in mythology, it told the tale of a love found, a love lost and a love renewed.

This story was dark and troubling and yet it was also passionately sweet. I loved the determination and drive that Psyche had. She was certainly stronger than I had originally imagined. She was also wise, although that took some time. Each experience she had revealed a different part of self.

The god of Love was quite the character. Misunderstood and disillusioned, he took a hard stance when it came to love...or so it seemed. I liked him though. How lonely his life must have been before Psyche. His history was rich with details about his family, life, role, and matters of the heart.

On the whole, this book was definitely worth the read. Some scenes were a bit too racy for me, but it worked for what the author was trying to accomplish.

Strong start but tails off a little in the middle. Very interesting take on mythology and I enjoyed it.

Psyche stood alone on the beach as the priest of Apollo had commanded. Wearing only a red linen shawl and a golden necklace. The oracle had not said if the monster would eat her or keep her for ill use. There was very little in Psyche’s life she wanted to remember. Suddenly the Goddess of love and beauty Venus towered above Psyche. Venus was more dazzling than any mortal woman could hope to bet more gorgeous than a man could dream. Venus hated Psyche. Then after examining Psyche Venus left. Then Psyche sensed another presence. But it was not a monster but a beautiful winged man. It was the God of Love- Venus’s son. Then he pulled Psyche to him and started to rise in the air with her. Then Psyche decided she didn’t want to die that she actually wanted to live. Psyche was suppose to die her only crime was that she was too beautiful. Then He started to drop and then he left Psyche on the grass and left then Adora showed up who was a slave girl who lead psyche through some trees to a palace that the slave girl said was her masters that she had not seen but sometimes got messages from. Psyche was to have whatever she wanted. Then Psyche became aware of a familiar sensation of something unseen. Psyche had first had this sensation when she was sixteen three years ago. It was almost like an invisible man watching Psyche several times. Over the last three years she had felt like she was being watched by unseen eyes. Then One time the slave girl tied Psyche to the bed and blindfolded her but she is not eaten or killed but shown gentleness in the way of physical. The God agrees to marry Psyche but she must always be blindfolded when he comes to her but she does eventually manage to see him and it is the God of love but then he kicks her out of his palace . Psyche goes to Venus and begs Venus to return her to Cupid-the God of love. Psyche is then put to three impossible tasks. Psyche must do all the tasks or never see her husband again and die.
I had mixed feelings about this story . I liked the beginning of the story but as time went on it was harder to keep going but i did. I liked the plot. I loved that Psyche would not give up on the God she loved. I wondered how Venus coped with Cupid and Psyche being together again. But this reminded me of Hercules and how he had tasks that he wasn’t suppose to be able to complete so not an original concept there. But still didn’t take away from the story. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.