I received First Quiver as an eARC. All opinions are my own.

I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy, and I was initially intrigued by the wonderful cover design and the premise of Cupid being banished from the heavens as a punishment. I have never read any fiction or romance based on Greek mythology, but I was hooked in the first few chapters introducing Cupid and his world on Mount Olympus. I also appreciated how the author gave us enough background and a reference page for relationships among the relevant Greek gods. It has been a while since my world history class in high school, so the reminder was much needed!

Cupid as a helpless Earthling without his wings and quiver is a hilarious protagonist. He is Aphrodite’s “mama’s boy,” and both are forlorn that Cupid has to live out his punishment for a prank on Earth. In comes Pan, a demi-god and Cupid’s best friend, who has been living on Earth for millennia as a guide for the other Gods who had been kicked out of the heavens. Pan also happens to have a little crush on Cupid, who has thought Pan was dead after he himself left Mount Olympus years ago.

I really enjoyed Pan and Cupid’s friendship as well as fondness that bordered on erotic love. Their relationship was my favorite part of the book, and I would drop everything to read a book just about their childhood antics on Olympus. Pan is a trustworthy friend and a moral compass as Cupid falls for Mia, a single mother of three. Pan’s devotion to Cupid is admirable, even though he knows Cupid would never want to start a relationship with him. It is implied that Pan is bisexual, and I appreciate the effort for LGBTQ+ representation.

Speaking of representation, I wish there was more racial diversity and representation in this book. All the main characters in this book are white. All the secondary characters, including all the potential Right Love candidates that Cupid finds for Mia, are assumed to be white. I hope that the second book will have an intentionally diverse set of characters.

Another reason I couldn’t give the book a perfect rating is that I am craving more world building! Besides a few scenes on Mount Olympus, the entire book is set in the town of Tarra, Indiana, and I’m not sure how big the town is after finishing the book. Is it a stereotypical small town in the middle of nowhere Indiana? Or is it slightly larger like Bloomington or the fictional Pawnee, Indiana? Tarra has a nice romantic restaurant and a few nice bars, which my hometown of 15,000 (the biggest town in our county, mind you) did not have, so I’m having a hard time picturing Tarra.

Despite the above two points, I really liked the concept and execution of the book. We readers, especially romance fans, can relate to Cupid, who has never had a romantic encounter for over 3,375 years until he landed on Earth. I can relate to eagerness in the world of romance. And once again, I have to rave about Pan and Cupid’s friendship. Pan values his friendship with Cupid over everything, and his integrity to protecting Cupid is admirable. I am itching to read book 2, which is coming out spring 2021! I would like to see Cupid stay on Earth with his best friend Pan and hopefully run into his Right Love by the end of this FOUR part series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the eARC.

A perfect pick for Romantic February!!

💙Just released: January 26, 2021

The Cupid's Fall Series: Book 1 🔞

FIRST QUIVER- a novel
by
BETH C. GREENBERG.

Synopsis:
Immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially for the 3,375-year-old virgin of Mount Olympus.
Cupid’s coddled, humdrum existence takes a sharp turn for the worse when his mischievous aim sends a love-tipped arrow into the wrong rump, and the God of Love gets a taste of his own medicine.

Banished from Mount Olympus, Cupid plunges to Earth and lands in present-day Tarra, Indiana, where mortals go on about their daily routines, oblivious to the capricious gods stirring the pot from above.
Delighted to discover his wings and pubescent pudge have transformed into an impressive human form, Cupid swiftly leaves his virginity behind.
His carnal spree is cut short when he falls passionately in love for the first time in his
immortal life, and the full measure of his punishment becomes clear: he must find the Right Love match for the mortal he desperately loves, and then he must let her go.

To fulfill his divine mission, Cupid must survive the violent throes of his own coming of age while battling the powerful gods conspiring against him.

💙💙FIRST QUIVER explores the meaning of love with an irreverent, contemporary take on classical mythology and the original dysfunctional family.

💁‍♀️My take:
Love is such a fabulous emotion.
With it twists and turns, it forms a rollercoaster 🎢 ride.

What if, the love God, the Cupid, who enjoys watching mortals suffer in this sweet pain called Love, has to bear all these emotions himself, life a mortal.

The emotions are not only of pain, sadness and longingness but he gets to relish ecstacy and the pleasures of the humble mortal being🤫

Book 1 of this series, sure brings in loads of entertainment with love, true friendships & some humor.A perfect read for the coming season when love is at an all time high, in the air!

Although 44 chapters, it is one quick read due to its fast pace and entertainment quotient.

Book 2 of the Cupid's Fall Series : INTO THE QUIET is expected to come in Spring 2021.

Excited!

#noorthebookwormreviews
#firstquiver

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. I will most likely read the next book in the series. As a fan of mythology, it was an interesting twist on familiar characters, Although, I did actually expect more craziness just due to the nature of the Greek/Roman Gods.

Cupid/Eros/Q is banished to Earth as punishment for playing a prank. After falling to Earth, Q is given a different body which essentially turns him into a magnet for both women and men. His mission/punishment gives him the opportunity to redeem himself in order to return home to the Mount. Helping him along the journey is his old friend Pan who teaches him how to survive as a human on Earth while assisting him with his mission and overseeing his punishment. The best parts of the book in my opinion focus on the friendship/relationship between Q and Pan. I would have preferred more exploration into their relationship and I am hopeful that it will be explored more in the next book.

there were several things that i really, truly enjoyed about this book. cupid's maturity, the bond between him and pan, and the relationship between aphrodite and hephaestus are only a few of them. i found First Quiver to be a sweet, funny story about love and finding The One when you least expect it.

i did not, however, overly enjoy the (in my opinion) slight fetishization of homosexuality that is seen between pan and cupid. the writing style also was not a perfect fit for me - hence the 3 stars. i would consider reading the sequel when it comes out, though.

thank you netgalley for this arc.

If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology, you’re well aware of the over the top personalities and high levels of promiscuousness typically associated with these well-known Gods and Goddesses. This novel is a great read whether you’re a fan or just curious for a fun book to read. There’s a handy family tree at the beginning of the novel to help familiarize you with how some of the characters fit together and there is a more descriptive guide at the end. I love the idea of a story revolving around Cupid and him growing up in a way to learn about love, despite being the expert in love. After reading the description, I was excited to read this interpretation of Cupid as the last time I remember seeing a new version was when I was watching the original Charmed series. This is a completely different Cupid though from what I saw on tv and he was an entertaining central character.

Cupid, also known as Eros, is being punished by the Gods for causing trouble and is banished to Earth in Tarra, Indiana. He loses his wings and his old form and lands on Earth in the body of a handsome man. He meets up with his Earth guide, Pan, who is Cupid’s best friend. Pan lives on Earth after being sent there originally as a punishment, but now he acts as a guide for fallen Olympians. Pan is a satyr, half man/half goat (think of Phil from Disney’s Hercules), who is also a handsome man in his human form on Earth. Although Pan and Cupid are thrilled to reunite on Earth and have some fun, they each have their own job to do to figure out how Cupid can return to Mount Olympus. Events occur (I don’t want to give away anything) and Cupid may not want to or be able to return after all. The story goes through Cupid’s time on Earth as he adjusts to his punishment.

Pan and Cupid have a great bond and it is fun to see them interact together. It’s very entertaining for Pan to try and teach Cupid the basics of being human, such as clothes, phones, and even food! Their interactions felt relatable as old friends that genuinely care about the other. Pan himself leaves you wanting to learn more about him and relating to him as a character as he struggles with wanting to keep his best friend with him, but also wanting to fulfil his duty to help Cupid complete his punishment.

Mia was introduced as a great love interest for Cupid (“Q”) and I love the buildup of their relationship and also the struggles that Q feels as he knows it can’t last, even though he wants it to. His interactions with her family were very enjoyable and sweet. Cupid learning about the trials and tribulations in love was heart-warming as you see him grow and understand it more and more. It’s a well done romance that keeps you guessing if these two can make it work together or not. The concept of Real Love and destiny is well-done as it is incorporated into the story well and you understand the struggle Cupid feels as he is torn between love and duty.

Overall, it is a clever story for a cast of well-known characters. The entire story is a fresh take on what you think you know about Cupid as he makes him a relatable character that you want to root for. The novel is a fairly quick read as you are anxious to see how it will end; however, you don’t quite get a full conclusion due to this being a series. There is an ending of sorts, but the novel sets itself up for its continuation in the next book. You do become immersed in the story and want to see what happens next. Luckily, it is not that long of a wait as book two, Into the Quiet, is set to debut in May 2021. It was definitely an entertaining read and I can’t wait to see what will happen next!

**I give a special thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC to read and review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “First Quiver” by Beth C. Greenberg, 2021 for Suzy Approved Book Tours
Beth C. Greenberg, the author of “First Quiver” writes a unique, witty, and quirky book. The genres for this book are Coming of Age Fantasy, Mythology and Folk Tales, and Romantic Fantasy, with a sliver of satire. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her colorful characters as complex and complicated.

Who can really know what can upset the Mythological Gods? Cupid can’t really tell you that, but after missing his target with his arrow enough times, and getting the wrong targets at times, he finds that he is sent from the place where the Gods are, and is falling towards Earth. Greeting him is his favorite friend Pan, who Cupid had believed was dead. Pan now is walking like a man, and no longer half animal. Cupid realizes that he no longer has his wings either. Pan seems to be Cupid’s mentor and “wingman ” in a matter of speaking. Pan seems to have the task of setting Cupid on his path of redemption as well as teaching him about the “new” way of life on Earth.

Cupid seems like a chick magnet, and most of the women and some men love and adore him. Cupid’s task it seems is very difficult. It seems that the Gods have a plan to teach Cupid a lesson. Cupid has a job to do, and it is a very painful one. He can either do his job, and find love for the one he loves, or love for himself. This is a delightful and entertaining read that I would recommend for others.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

First Quiver was a hilariously, sweet story. I found it very easy to root for Cupid, and especially loved his relationship with Pan. I thought the journey of Cupid having to find love for the woman he loved was never dull and was actually complex since he had to do that while also figuring out how to act like a human.

I'd definitely recommend this to people who are fans of suggestive stand up comedy and who don't mind crude language. It's also great for mythology and rom-com lovers who wish the genres were mixed more. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

This story was a complete surprise. A love story in which the main characters don't end up together... That's a first.

When Cupid is sent to earth, he is met by his old friend Pan, who he thought was dead. First surprise for Cupid. Now, he has to learn everything, from using a cell phone, driving, to putting the needs of the person he loves ahead of his own.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I will certainly enjoy reading the stories after this one.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

You don't have to be familiar with Greek mythology to enjoy this fun story. I enjoyed how Pan and Cupid interacted with each other and look forward to reading more in this series.

First Quiver is the debut novel of Beth. C. Greenberg. This is a different take on the cupid and Greek legends. I love how the Greek deities are used are not just the common ones. First Quiver is one of them deubt Novel you need to pick up as you know its going to be a hit. This novel deliver extremely well. The dynamic between cupid and pan are well though out and written. You could feel yourself having this sort of interaction yourself. The ending left me wanting more.

When I read the description about this book I thought I was going to get a story about a gods ego, but instead the story was thoughtful, delightful and heartfelt. When the god (Cupid) is kick out of mount Olympic because of bad behavior he is assigned to helping a woman find her true love, and it doesn't end up like you would think. While Cupid is getting use to planet earth, he falls in love with his yoga instructor and her family which is wonderful but he realizes he loves her but she doesn't love him, and because of that he has to be selfless in order to help her find her true love and let just say it turns out better than I thought.
What I really like about this book was the relationships between Cupid and Pan (his friend on earth), and Mia (the woman he falls in love with) and the best one is Cupid and Mia's children, so adorable and kind I wish it last forever.

I want to thank Isotopia Publishing Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley for an Advance copy of this wonderful story.

I received this as an advanced copy from Net Galley, and all opinions remain my own.

I originally request this novel because I love Greek Mythology, and I have a deep love for romance. This delivered well on both for me, The concept was strong and the follow-through excellent.

I absolutely love the dynamic between Cupid and Pan. I felt that their interactions were realistic. I could tell that they cared for each other and I in turn cared for them. I thought that the introduction to Cupid was compelling and made me care for him almost instantly.

The writing is descriptive and funny. It made me laugh out loud a few times, and I had a deep enjoyment of the book. It was nearly impossible for me to put down, and I finished it very quickly. As soon as I did, I recommended it to a friend of mine.

The author built up sexual tension very well. The romance aspect was very interesting because it was all so new to the main character, and I thought that was handled well. I do wish there had been more build-up between Cupid and the love interest, as it happened kind of fast. I also loved the LGBTQ+ representation of the two male characters, and thought it really added to the story.

The ending was very compelling and made me want to rush out and purchase the next book in the series.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book!

What happens to a mischievous god when his crazy juvenile antics land him in hot water with basically ALL of the major gods from Greek mythology?!

Cupid has screwed to the pooch with his golden arrow and is now paying for it with exile to earth. Not only is he learning how to live like the mortals he’s also learning some real life lessons about the seriousness of love and the weight of the consequences of his childish actions.

The characters In this book are all very likeable and it’s so fun to watch a generation of gods start to grow up and learn that all actions carry consequences.

Cupid is warm, Pan is heartbreakingly precious and the mortals are well written believable characters. The dialogue flows so well and it is just a fun read!

This is a debut novel and first in a series by Beth Greenberg. It’s a fresh take on Greek Mythology, so although you don’t have to be familiar with the myths to enjoy the story, as someone who has loved Greek & Roman Mythology since I was a child, I wasn’t disappointed with this new interpretation.

We begin our story with Cupid/Eros being thrown from Mount Olympus to Earth as punishment for a terrible prank. As he loses his wings, he takes human form which differs from his Mount Olympus form. To guide him through his penance and time on Earth is his old BFF and fellow Olympian God. As I don’t wish to giveaway the storyline too much, I’ll leave it there.

I really thought that Cupid was a sweet warm hearted character, which differs from his mythological representation, which can be at times mischievous, passionate and cruel. Just as love can be. All of the characters were really likeable, as was the human love interest and their adorable family. As this is a first in a series, this particular story was resolved, however Cupid’s story is not. Whilst I enjoyed this story and will most likely read the second one, I do hope that this does not turn out to be a BFF to lovers story, as I’m personally holding out hope that the Author will let Cupid have everlasting love with his soul mate, Psyche.

This is an easy to read, light romantic story that is good whilst waiting for your flight, lazy Sunday afternoon or beach read. Really enjoyed reading it and was pleasantly surprised.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the story. I’m voluntarily reviewing a complimentary ARC and all opinions are unbiased and my own.