A gothic tale with a boarding school, witchcraft, love and the rules that bind.
I will be real, I have no real clue what that plot was nor what the main point of the school or rose was, but this story really intrigued me, and I enjoyed it still.

I would love more explanation to the magic, rules and the school.

This is the first sapphic graphic novel that I've read and I kinda have mixed emotions about it. First of all, let me just say that I really liked the illustrations. I think it's pretty especially since it has a gothic element in it. I think that's one of the reasons why I'm interested to read this book in the first place. Moreover, I have always been a fan of Eros & Psyche, so knowing that there is a retelling of them made me pretty hype in reading this graphic novel. Unfortunately, it wasn't a retelling of them. Also, I got to say that this story didn't entirely grab my fullest attention until the very end. At some point, I got bored but I read it just for the sake of reading. Overall, it was an okayish read for me. It's not entirely bad but it's not good either.

For a mythology nerd, a title like Eros/Psyche certainly paints a tone before even opening the book. Similarly, if you've paid attention to artfully done comics over the last decade the name Maria Llovet sets a very high bar for what to expect.

The description on the book speaks of the school, of the place where these young women go to study and learn secret curses but the school is the backdrop. What is core to the book is the lingering moments between the young women. Both between Sara and Silje, the main characters whose relationship forms the crux of the story and between Sara and the other students. It is a story told in silence and in subtext, in the positions in frames.

Of course, this means that for some people who don't speak silence as a language this book could potentially be very frustrating. And there's material in here (notably suicide) that can be alarming for some readers and both of these warnings should be taken seriously before picking it up.

I did not initially realize when receiving the ARC that was provided that this was Maria Llovet's first professional work as a comics artist and cartoonist and that we are seeing it now be brought to the US, in color, a decade later. There's something reminiscent of indie comics of the late aughts and early teens in the art style but honestly each image is so crisp, minimal and beautiful I would have not assumed this was 'dated'. This was also my first real exposure to Ablaze as a publisher of quite a few interesting titles from investigating their catalog and this book.

Eros/Psyche is melancholy, surreal, and thoughtful. Going into the book with that sort of understanding is important for setting yourself up for good expectations. And the story is told, as mentioned above, far more through art. Pages will go by without a single word. But even in that case, I found myself invested in Sara and Silje's potential happiness and wanting the best for them. I was left with questions as I finished but not every story has to tie up neatly.

Less and More

You don't "follow" this story, you feel it. The blurb tries its darnedest to make it sound like there's a tale with a plot here- mysterious school, hints of magic and witchcraft, a secret society, curses, peril, threats to the young lady students. It seems likely to develop into a Gothic or supernatural creepy school sort of thriller, with a Sapphic overlay. Well, yes and no. That would be way too easy and predictable. This book is much less and much much more than that.

Our author has a background in, and a professed "passion for" the fashion industry, and that makes sense here. If your run of the mill Gothic thriller is a practical pantsuit, this book is a gorgeous, impractical piece of couture. It's flashy and colorful and makes an impression, even if it's loosely stitched together and wouldn't hold up to actual wear.

So, as the story struts down the runway we admire how it's put together, we appreciate how it breaks some norms and reaffirms others, and we reflect on the little touches and the bits of detail that come together to create an overall lasting impression. Somehow the book touches on friendship, infatuation, young love, loyalty, coming of age, the disappointment that may come with maturity, and the odd mix of tenderness and cold-heartedness that can co-exist during one's teenage years. That's quite an accomplishment, and way more exciting than some school witch craft potboiler.

So, it's eerie, surreal, and gorgeous to look at. It is both distant and cool on one hand, and hot blooded and intimate on the other. In its nod to Eros and Psyche the book reminds us that great myths have power because of what they signify and what they implicate, and that a completely logical, linear plot is of minimal concern.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this e-ARC for an honest review.

The art in this graphic novel is absolutely gorgeous and I like the gothic/horror feel for a sapphic story, but that's where my interest ended. I love graphic novels that use art to enhance and tell a story, but I was so lost in the first 100 pages that the art lost its luster and I was just a ball of frustration. I didn't really have a reason to care about anyone. It's successful as an illustrated penny dreadful, but it's a little too long for that kind of story.

Overall 2/5 stars.

I thought this would be a sapphic retelling of the Eros and Psyche myth. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't. The art is beautiful. The first four issues set up quite a mysterious, slightly dark academia story. I'm intrigued to read more but as for now I feel similar towards Eros/Psyche as I did towards The Wicked + The Divine.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Beautifully haunting tale with gorgeous imagery. Can be hard to understand as there aren't many context clues and there are gaps in the story text. It wasn't until I read the book's summary at the end did I fully grasp the meaning.

Would make a great short film.

It was pretty but confusing? I thought there would be more connection to the mythology indicated by the title but there wasn't.