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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. The overall plot and characterizations were gorgeous and I loved the concept of retelling this particular myth because of its potential. However, the prose felt clunky and heavy handed at points and I had a hard time engaging with it at times. Both the beginning and the ending could use some editing, but the middle was very well written.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars
I really wanted to enjoy this book. The overall plot and characterizations were gorgeous and I loved the concept of retelling this particular myth because of its potential. However, the prose felt clunky and heavy handed at points and I had a hard time engaging with it at times. Both the beginning and the ending could use some editing, but the middle was very well written.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I ended up really loving this--and initially I was skeptical, given what some of the reviews I saw said, particularly about some of the egregious run-on sentences (of which, yes, there are a handful; part of that is De Robertis's flowing, poetical style of writing, and part of that really should have been flagged by an editor). But apart from some technical missteps, this is a breathtaking story that does what many books in this renaissance of Greek mythology fiction do not: breathes new life into the work it's adapting and makes it feel both timeless and relevant. I really, really loved the main theme of "wake up and ache for your life" (a quote from Postcolonial Love Poem that opens up the novel) and how it manifested differently for both characters but made both of their journeys so heartbreakingly real. I loved the importance and prevalence of queer identities, particularly Eros's nonbinary identity (which isn't referred to as such, given the time period, but which is probably the closest comparison for our modern day thinking) And, despite my earlier criticisms thereof, I also really, really loved the writing: deeply sensual and erotic when the scene calls for it, flowing and lyrical when not, all reminiscent of a piece of ancient poetry. The ending, where Psyche-as-narrator briefly addresses the audience, on a subject that I won't spoil, genuinely moved me to the point of being a little misty-eyed. This author is one I will be watching.
3.75 stars! I loved the sapphic and genderfulid representation in this! the romance scenes were so beautiful and truly did the myth justice in the true retelling!!! was very pleased with that! only issue was that the writing could ramble a bit- even with the beautiful prose, it could be a bit much.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a unique LGBTQIA take on Eros and Psyche. A bit of in immature romance, but seemed true to the Greek mythology in how the prose was written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia