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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first book where I stopped reading and stared at the wall for 10 minutes in silent evisceration at the climax of the book. I generally knew the story of Psyche and Eros so I knew it was coming but I still sat there aghast with my heart in pieces for these characters. I am in love with how the style of writing feels so ethereal and like I’m being told an ancient folktale straight from the source.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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 generally love retellings of famous stories, but this Psyche + Eros story was hard for me to get through. Maybe because it was less familiar to me? Or because I always get my Greek and Roman deities mixed up?
I liked the queer rep and exploration of gender identities, but their relationship also felt a little "insta-love" to me. I think the timeline was like two weeks before they consummated the marriage but it didn't seem like they really had any deep talks with each other. It felt like more like lust, but perhaps it's a commentary on how unconditional acceptance = love?
The dialogue also felt too modern to me. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it with dated prose, but it still felt a little jarring -- like seeing Juliet in jeans.
Sourced: BCB Book Club, June selection
I liked the queer rep and exploration of gender identities, but their relationship also felt a little "insta-love" to me. I think the timeline was like two weeks before they consummated the marriage but it didn't seem like they really had any deep talks with each other. It felt like more like lust, but perhaps it's a commentary on how unconditional acceptance = love?
The dialogue also felt too modern to me. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it with dated prose, but it still felt a little jarring -- like seeing Juliet in jeans.
Sourced: BCB Book Club, June selection
And I, of course, like every daughter born in the wake of other daughters, was a surplus, a disappointment, a child who should not have been born.
Psyche and Eros's story, as retold in this book, offers a fresh take on the classic Greek myth. Psyche's beauty, which leads to people neglecting Aphrodite, results in Eros being tasked with punishing her. However, Eros falls in love instead. The story explores how love can thrive in darkness, as Eros visits Psyche only at night. However,can love sustain without the light of the day?
What sets this retelling apart is the author's decision to give Psyche a voice, allowing her to express the violation she feels from being objectified. The portrayal of Eros as a non-binary character adds depth, highlighting the frustrations and challenges of those who are often misunderstood and are considered different as per societal standards. While I appreciated these unique elements, I found the prose a bit heavy and wished for a more straightforward style.
If you enjoy descriptive love scenes, queer characters, and reimagined Greek mythology, this book is worth checking out.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing both a physical and digital copy of this book.
What sets this retelling apart is the author's decision to give Psyche a voice, allowing her to express the violation she feels from being objectified. The portrayal of Eros as a non-binary character adds depth, highlighting the frustrations and challenges of those who are often misunderstood and are considered different as per societal standards. While I appreciated these unique elements, I found the prose a bit heavy and wished for a more straightforward style.
If you enjoy descriptive love scenes, queer characters, and reimagined Greek mythology, this book is worth checking out.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing both a physical and digital copy of this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautifully written book, but I’m taking off a half star for putting in the detail about Psyche using a tree as a masturbatory aid and for mentioning that she ate a pomegranate covered in her own “juices.” 🤢🤢🤢
I was so excited for The Palace of Eros because Cantoras is one of my all-time favorites but, sadly, I struggled to connect with this one. I never felt truly invested in the characters or in their relationship. However, the way Eros explored their gender identity really stood out to me and was extremely well-done. I would recommend this for people specifically interested in mythology retellings who can get really into the details of the story... but personally I needed a bit more to draw me in.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I found this really enjoyable. I enjoyed the myth, the characters, the story. Captivated me.
Eros as genderqueer in this novel is beautifully done. Both Palace of Eros and Cantoras explore freedom through sexuality and sensitivity, particularly as it relates to the feminine and the systems that women are inherited into. Loved the exploration of mother/daughter relationships here as well, with Aphrodite and Eros being so deeply intertwined and Psyche having such a quiet, unspoken relationship with her mother. I loved this 😭 and I cried.