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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The first 30% was really good, had a lot of potential, and was very interesting. After that, the most boring parts dragged on forever and the parts that would have been exciting or interesting were skipped right past. I wanted to DNF so bad but it kept teasing a plot that never really came. Really cool and interesting gender representation. That’s about it though. Disappointing because it could have been sooooo good. :(
Absolutely superb. Just stunning.
Completely NSFW and, real talk, you might want to read it sitting on a towel.
Completely NSFW and, real talk, you might want to read it sitting on a towel.
slow-paced
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the exploration of gender, gender roles, and queerness in a patriarchal society in this book. I struggled with the pacing - the middle 50% is mostly sex and talking. There's a lot of interesting character work done in that section, but I still felt it went on too long.
The prose was quite lyrical, and I found it beautiful (but again - at times, rather lengthy).
The passage near the end directed at the reader / descendents was quite touching.
The prose was quite lyrical, and I found it beautiful (but again - at times, rather lengthy).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape
Moderate: Pregnancy
Strong start, weak everything-else
The story was so compelling in the first 1/4 of the story or so, and then it just became pages-long over-exposition and a lot of sex for like the entire central half. Like it’s hard to even root for Eros and Psyche because the thing is they DONT know each other, they are constantly miscommunicating and it’s frustrating to watch.
Psyche is also a little bit of an idiot. Like girl, your sisters literally abandoned you at the worst time of your life and tried to blame you for shit out of your control when you were a child. They relish in your suffering. Why do you keep acting like they’re gonna be nice to you and give a shit. They literally hate your ass.
Also I really didn’t expect so many of Eros’ chapters to be Ancient Greek transphobia & misogyny simulator, but damn here we are. Like sorry, you’re telling me with a straight face an all powerful god who fucks everything that moves would think being magically intersex is weird? Again, just hard to buy-into that in the mythos that’s being presented. Like it could’ve been an interesting spin on the myth, but it just didn’t feel interesting the way it was ultimately played out.
I also don’t know if it was a typo or an accident on the author’s part, but why tf does Psyche refer to Eros by her name in internal narration in the scene leading up to her looking at her, when at that point she still doesn’t know it. It was so weirdly immersion breaking and bothered me as a strange break in consistency.
The story was so compelling in the first 1/4 of the story or so, and then it just became pages-long over-exposition and a lot of sex for like the entire central half. Like it’s hard to even root for Eros and Psyche because the thing is they DONT know each other, they are constantly miscommunicating and it’s frustrating to watch.
Psyche is also a little bit of an idiot. Like girl, your sisters literally abandoned you at the worst time of your life and tried to blame you for shit out of your control when you were a child. They relish in your suffering. Why do you keep acting like they’re gonna be nice to you and give a shit. They literally hate your ass.
Also I really didn’t expect so many of Eros’ chapters to be Ancient Greek transphobia & misogyny simulator, but damn here we are. Like sorry, you’re telling me with a straight face an all powerful god who fucks everything that moves would think being magically intersex is weird? Again, just hard to buy-into that in the mythos that’s being presented. Like it could’ve been an interesting spin on the myth, but it just didn’t feel interesting the way it was ultimately played out.
I also don’t know if it was a typo or an accident on the author’s part, but why tf does Psyche refer to Eros by her name in internal narration in the scene leading up to her looking at her, when at that point she still doesn’t know it. It was so weirdly immersion breaking and bothered me as a strange break in consistency.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I had no idea what this book was about before starting it, and when I read the description on the back, all I needed to see was “Young Psyche secretly longs for a life away from the expectations and demands of men…” and I was sold!
This is obviously based on Greek mythology and the story of Psyche and Eros, but the thing is… I’m very unfamiliar with Greek mythology in general, so I can’t speak to that aspect as well as others might.
What I can say is that this book was so beautifully written and poetic! My oh my, give me more of Caro De Robertis’ writing immediately, please and thank you. The lyrical prose and imagery woven into this one were divine.
This story challenged gender norms and cultural expectations in all the best ways. I’m afraid to go any deeper and accidentally spoil something, so I’ll keep this brief but it was such a refreshing take on mythology retellings. The message of shattering old ways to open new paths rang loud and clear and left me feeling inspired and empowered.