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just_one_more_paige's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Well, I liked this second book better than the first. Though I can say a lot of that probably comes down to my own personal preferences for reading types of romance and sex, rather than any major difference in the writing itself.
Persephone’s younger sister, Psyche, is center stage for this book. After a throwaway meet-cute (on her end, anyways) with Eros that is caught on camera and posted on tabloids, Aphrodite’s well-known jealousy comes out and she sends Ero (her son and fixer) to “take care of” Psyche. Instead, he hatches the only plan he can come up with to save her from his mother’s wrath: a fake marriage. Faced with no other options, Psyche says yes. But their ploy takes some major turns with they start to develop real feelings for each other, from sexual pull to the protectiveness born of love, they throw everything on the line to protect each other from Aphrodite’s wrath and cold-hearted parenting and revenge.
I enjoyed seeing the world of Olympus developed more here, with cameos from some first-book-favs (looking at you Hermes), as well as greater development of some other side characters, like Demeter and Aphrodite and the new Zeus. Plus, the overall inter-god/goddess machinations, a central part of Greek mythology, are all strong here.
The romance itself though was much more insular, as the effects of the relationship this time were more intra-family, as opposed to having effects on the whole of the “world” (as Hades and Persephone’s did). This book is hyper-focused on the internal struggles of Psyche and Eros – their transition into the limelight with “non-traditional” beauty and being raised by the cold and emotionally-manipulative Aphrodite, respectively – and how they have to work through those issues, separately and together, to make their connection work. I do love a “he falls first and harder” story, so that was really sweetly done here. And some combo of that type of relationship and their personalities more broadly, but this was just overall a more light/wholesome romance vibe. That being said, the steaminess factor was still high AF, and so good. Not really any kinks here, just more straightforward sex, but well-written and (once we got there) a lot of it.
There are some attempts so far to be inclusive in these romances. Some are less impressive to me, like the bit mentions of previous non-hetero relationships/attractions that feel more like checking a box. And some are more pervasive, like Psyche’s plus-size figure, in this case. Not sure how successful the overall impression is, and I recognize the work.
Very solid second book – quick and sexy and a little bit sweet here – exactly the vacay vibes I needed. And now I’m on the long hold-list for the third book. Cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence
dancers_and_dragons's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Gun violence, Stalking, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Murder, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
nykolereads's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Fatphobia
miss_vonnegut's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
I almost DNFed this several times, but I’m curious about the next book so I finished it. I just wasn’t invested in the relationship of the two main characters at all. I will say though, the spice was 10/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
jennifersherry's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Body shaming
Moderate: Gun violence
moodreadmoonchild's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
this book is perfect. i have nothing else to say. read it. then reread it. then schedule to reread it again once a season for the rest of you life. If you need a little more convincing (which you shouldn’t) see below:
✨enemies to lovers
✨forced proximity
✨fake dating
✨marriage of convenience
✨morality chain
✨plus-sized FMC
✨he falls first and he falls harder
✨i was sent to kill you but you make me 😍
✨touch her and die
✨that’s my wife
✨enemies to lovers
✨forced proximity
✨fake dating
✨marriage of convenience
✨morality chain
✨plus-sized FMC
✨he falls first and he falls harder
✨i was sent to kill you but you make me 😍
✨touch her and die
✨that’s my wife
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, and Body shaming
Minor: Murder and Violence
murder & violence off-page body shaming in ch 1, 3, & 31 emotional and financial abuseacraig9's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
amanda_mh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yeah I enjoyed this def better than the first book. It was fun, sexy, and mysterious ! Also loved the time spent getting to understand the characters and the dynamics of the world this time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
myinvinciblesummer's review
5.0
I adored Neon Gods but this was even better! I love getting to see a
FMC, who is shaped like me, but has
confidence but is also still realistic about how it can be hurtful living under society’s expectations. But her size isn’t her entire character trope, or even a large majority of it. Love that.
I love that Psyche is complex but at her core just kind and good. She survives and is cunning in ways but she’s not full of turmoil. Those characters are good too but she was a lovely change of pace. And Eros? That’s a Rhysand level male, right there. And I rarely bestow that honor on anyone. HIGHLY recommend.
I also love that this series just openly talks about how it seems almost default that most people are basically Pansexual. It’s not a label or a fetish or sexualized. It’s talked about in such a normal way, like Hererosexual people normally get talked about in our society.
FMC, who is shaped like me, but has
confidence but is also still realistic about how it can be hurtful living under society’s expectations. But her size isn’t her entire character trope, or even a large majority of it. Love that.
I love that Psyche is complex but at her core just kind and good. She survives and is cunning in ways but she’s not full of turmoil. Those characters are good too but she was a lovely change of pace. And Eros? That’s a Rhysand level male, right there. And I rarely bestow that honor on anyone. HIGHLY recommend.
I also love that this series just openly talks about how it seems almost default that most people are basically Pansexual. It’s not a label or a fetish or sexualized. It’s talked about in such a normal way, like Hererosexual people normally get talked about in our society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Gun violence and Body shaming
kaimetcalfe's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Gun violence