I couldn't finish this title. I'm all for retellings of mythology, but this became too much and too confusing. Unfortunately I didn't really see how the romance Psyche and Eros played out because there's so much unnecessary worldbuilding around a vastly unnecessary changed universe before they meet.

I just reviewed Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara. #PsycheandEros #NetGalley

This book was at it's best a disappointment, and at it's worse a girl boss take on a myth that suffers at the changes the author forced upon it. We get it, the only way we can respect a #Feminist is if she ditches her feminine pursuits and works to become a warrior. We've all read that story, it's 2023 we should be able to recognize that femininity is not equal to weakness but whatever.
I love authors taking liberties with source material, I'm pro-changing things that need to be changed. I don't even need a good reason, just change it for a vibe! But this book was just... odd in it's choices.

This was a triumph. I have always loved the myth of Cupid (Eros) and Psyche. My first introduction to a myth retelling was Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis so this myth in particular is dear to my heart. I adored the way McNamara reshaped this myth breathing in new life and giving Psyche more agency. She expertly explores the nuance of the gods, and the world they inhabit. It’s a very different take, but if you are a fan of strong female protagonists, gods behaving badly, and the examination of the connection between love and the soul, you’ll find something magical here.

I love myth retellings. I am not super familiar with the story of Psyche and Eros so I was interested to learn more about them. I did enjoy this story and the nods to other myths.

Some of the changes to myths worked really well for me and others fell flat. I didn't understand some of the changes but I did like the story as a whole and would encourage people to pick it up if they enjoy Greek myths. It is certainly a retelling and reimagining. I did like reading this novel and will pick up other titles about these characters as I am now interested to learn more.

While many people I've heard; favorite greek mythology story would be Persephone and Hades, mine was always Psyche and Eros. Probably because of a beautiful illustrated children's book I now own of this story but as a child I reread and borrowed from the library more often than any book in my life. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.

I thought the author did a phenomenal job of created and meshing so many characters and stories to make this book. I loved diving into the world of Greek mythology and just sat back and let this author take me on a beautiful adventure.

I loved the vibrant visualization of the story and the Gods and mortals, the world building and character development.

The narrators were fantastic, the dual POV and dual male and female narrators were fantastic and I really enjoyed them. Narrators can make or break a book and these 2 did an amazing job and kept me riveted to the book.

Anyone who wants just a lovely story, would totally enjoy this book.

My one problem was the development between Psyche and Eros seemed "too fast" while everything else seemed to take time and depth, I felt like when Psyche and Eros first were together their feelings for each other and their in-house story came about too fast and then when they were torn apart then things slowed down again.

Other than that I loved the book, the overall story was beautifully written and I enjoyed it!

*Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow & Company for this ARC*

This book prides itself on being subversive and nuanced. I'm not so sure about that. A few notes:

1) I am not opposed to taking liberties with the source material. My issue is that any potential consequences are not interrogated well (if at all). Okay, fine, make Penelope the sister, not cousin, of Helen and Clytemnestra. Make Psyche the niece of Agamemnon and cousin of Iphigenia. Eliminate Psyche's sisters entirely, using Iphigenia as a stand-in for a crucial aspect of the myth (and not very well, imo. The sisters would've been a better source of tension. Iphigenia spends like three seconds questioning Psyche about her mysterious husband). The book does precisely nothing to justify these choices. The Trojan War side storyline felt like window dressing and took oxygen away from the core myth, which frankly needed more breathing space. Why change anything, then? There are a million examples like this but I don't care to type them all out.

2) There is a type of historical romance novel which embodies #GirlBoss #Feminism. It values physical strength and traditionally "masculine" pursuits over "girly" hobbies like embroidery and housekeeping. Any silly female who enjoys the latter is merely validating patriarchal ideals. It's one-note in a misguided attempt to dismantle the patriarchy. The more thoughtful books, like Olivia Waite's THE LADY'S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS, have a more nuanced interpretation of feminist revolution.

PSYCHE AND EROS isn't a historical romance, but it suffers from the same problem. I was open, if cautious, to the idea of making Psyche an accomplished warrior with hero ambitions. Psyche wants to train under the hero Atalanta? There's zero evidence for this characterization in the source material, but I initially didn't care because I assumed the worldbuilding would be nuanced. Well, maybe I should have cared, lol. Perhaps it's possible to create a subversive "Psyche is a badass warrior" retelling, but this book isn't it. There are so many *actual* badass female warriors in Greek mythology. It seems like a waste to haphazardly slap on this backstory to Psyche of all heroines.

3) I could forgive #1 and #2 if the romantic ship was great. Alas, it was not.

4) The Eros sections were far more interesting and thoughtful than Psyche's point-of-view. The book would've been a lot better if it was solely from Eros's perspective.

I am still three-starring because I liked the audiobook narration and the writing was good enough for me to finish. NY publishing is flooded with subversive Greek retellings, so it's unsurprising that some of them don't live up to the advertising. If you're looking for a Madeline Miller readalike, this isn't it. If you don't give a fuck about the mythological source material, you might enjoy PYSCHE AND EROS.

Read via audio (narrated by Rachel Petladwala and Joshua Riley).

Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (less)

Alright, disclaimer this is my favorite myth of all time. And…I barely recognized it here. I usually can swing with changes in mythology and stuff for plot necessity but calling the book Psyche and Eros which is a Roman myth, told by a Roman and then…changing everything about the myth?? Psyche is supposed to be clever and resourceful, and she outwits Aphrodite who is a terror in this myth. Earning her divinity. So…making Eros the primordial god, and…not Aphrodite’s son, seems an odd choice.

the ages, sure to satisfy fans of Madeline Miller and V.E. Schwab

Who said true love is a myth?

A prophecy claims that Psyche, princess of Mycenae, will defeat a monster feared even by the gods. Rebelling against her society’s expectations for women, Psyche spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to meet her destiny.

When Psyche angers the love goddess Aphrodite, she sends Eros, god of desire, to deliver a cruel curse. After eons watching humanity twist his gifts, the last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world. But when he pricks himself with the arrow intended for Psyche, Eros finds himself doomed to yearn for a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.

Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and divine powers try to keep them apart, the pair must determine if the curse could become something more . . . before it’s too late.

I cannot get enough of Greek mythos retellings and this one is no acceptation. I loved the story that was chosen to be the focal part of this story. And although there are a lot of creative adjustments to the characters and line of the original myth, fiction wise I loved it. The writing is beautifully done, lush and lyrical it completely enfolded me in. The characters were well written, and I enjoyed the relationships that formed between them. I was love when storied that have pieces of Greek mythos overlap and enjoyed seeing the sacrifice of Virginia from the eyes of the women that were there with her. I will definitely be recommending this one to readers over and over again.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ❤️

I've always been passionate about greek mythology. One of the best memory of my life was in Greece - I was sitting on a bench under an olive tree, starring at the Parthenon for hours thinking about its history and the myths and culture of its country. Thinking about how centuries ago, people passed on stories that would still fascinate us years later.

I didn't read much of today's greek myths retelling. So many came out recently as there's this "trend" to rewrite them through the eyes of these mythical women and call them feminist. It's cool. I asked an ARC for Psyche and Eros as I wasn't that familiar with that story, and I didn't regret it.

What I prefered was how I felt swept away in this older world. The prose was really beautiful, going from flowery and poetic to more blunt according to the mood and stakes of the scenes. I loved all the references to the gods, the heroes, the Trojan War. It's an immersive story, and the author was inspired by different "sources" to put her words on the myth (The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius, Euripides...) and I really liked it.

I loved Psyche as a character, she was fun and interesting to spend time with. I didn't really buy the romance between her and Eros. It didn't feel credible, especially how easily Psyche accepts this marriage was out of character for me. It's weird because these two are the centre of the story, but their relationship isn't developed enough. However, it's not just a romance book, it's about fighting for what we want and what we love. It questions what a hero is supposed to be, how so-called monsters are victims.

"I saw now that the legends were drenched in blood, the blood of women."

The first part is slow and the second part is a bit rushed, but I didn't mind as I binge it and never grew bored of it. The writing, Psyche, and the travel in time and place were my favourites things about Psyche and Eros.

I had fun with ‘Psyche and Eros’ by Lucy McNamara! It was funny, had characters worth rooting for, and was, overall, a great, fresh reimagining. Recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the E-Arc!
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen a lot of Greek retellings but this is the first Psyche and Eros story I have seen and I thought it was extremely well done. While it had a slow start if you continue on, further into the book picks up and is very fun to read. I think the story itself did a great job of taking a artist ABBA Schmidt and building up on it in a way that was modern and entertaining for readers. I loved psyche as a character and Think they started a great job of portraying the doomed romance.

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.