Reviews - The Palace of Eros

696 reviews for:

The Palace of Eros

Caro De Robertis

3.89 AVERAGE

lovelifeandbooks's review

4.0

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Behaviors transcend binaries, the good and the bad. The book managed to find beauty in a world of violence. I’m glad I had an opportunity to read and shake up some rigidity in thinking.

felishacb's review against another edition

3.25

emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This mythological retelling has sensual queer love scenes, gender discovery and expansiveness, and some beautiful affirmation of the character's full identity (after some serious oppression). There's even exploration of a romantic partnership outside of monogam and heteronormativity.

All of the parts that I loved above helped get this book back up to my rating after the parts that didn't work for me. The story feels slow at parts, and I didn't get into it until almost 30%. I also did not remember how much r@pe happens in these tales (off page in the book). While I can see how bodily autonomy is very relevant here, I could have don't without the vast number of r@pes mentioned.

I'm glad I gave this story time to develop, because the love between Eros and Psyche in this novel really is special.

Content Warnings

ginalucia's review

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

silvernfire's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous challenging medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

melaniedctx's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

One of the best mythological retelling I’ve ever read! Eros and Psyche have broken the mold on what we’d expect. Their story is compelling and their evolution through their fears and tribulations is done so well. How their story ties to what many of us face in the current climate was poignant and in a way reassuring to know we can get through this as others have for millennia. This book is wonderfully written and I look forward to reading future books from the author.

My favorite quote is at the end of the book and I felt it to my very core… “Every woman’s path is cursed as long as the laws are bent on our diminishment. The laws of men, the laws of gods. They curse us, and I want to break them all.”

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.