Reviews

Psyche and Eros: A Novel by Luna McNamara

raemagaskie's review against another edition

5.0

My favorite book I’ve read so far this year. 

shayna14's review against another edition

fast-paced

1.0

the only part with some potential is when eros and psyche interact before the "curse" separates them. it's the only reason i didn't DNF the book because i thought the rest would be better.

copy and paste from my notes app of all my complaints about the book:

• flat world and character building
• mixing hekate and baba yaga myths with the chicken feet house
• talking in circles and repeating the same things in different words
• cringy start with how the gods were born
  • "what is this place?" i said aloud (🥴) - eros
  • "i believe it is called earth", said by GAIA... why would the primordial EARTH goddess herself only "believe" it's called earth💀
• cringy, amateur, and predictable dialogue and narrating
• rushing through storylines to fit as many inaccurate greek myths as possible
• 6 year old elektra nonchalantly predicting clytemnestra kills agamemnon and that she'll help orestes kill their mom
• cringy portrayals of the gods
• odysseus nicknamed "odd"
• trojan war is in the synopsis to be a reason eros and psyche are pulled apart yet she doesn't even fight in it
• the "curse" plot has so many holes
• the whole scene of eros being "sucked away" by the curse
• eros shapeshifting into animals is awkward
• plot line of eros and psyche traveling to see prometheus is unfinished and is awkwardly mentioned after
• narration awkwardly jumping back and forth between talking as if events are actively happening or already happened in the past
• aphrodite "adopting" eros and doing so against his will
• psyche constantly switching back and forth referring to atalanta as "my teacher" or just by her name while narrating
• so many typos and grammar errors
• demeter saying the nymphs she had watch persephone before she was kidnapped left within days because of persephone's "unspeakable cruelties"🙄🙄
• contradicting timelines: psyche talks about odysseus' (10 year long) journey home from the trojan war even though the war is still ACTIVELY HAPPENING at the time of her saying it🤦🏻‍♀️
• persephone has adonis naked, wearing a collar, and sleeping with his head on her lap and kneeling at her feet while she sits on her throne???!?!🤦🏻‍♀️😭
• says persephone is more fit to rule the underworld than HADES
• conflicts are too easily resolved so there's never any real suspense
• the writing tells what's happening, not actually showing or describing as it's unfolding
• why did psyche become bald after turning into a goddess??
• zephyrus blaming apollo for hyacinthus's death

rebecca_reeves's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

ameliajeffery's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

allieneltner's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

therealsadiemarie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

_thebookishluna's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

frozenwhisperer's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

amma's review against another edition

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

5.0

gingerjenreads's review against another edition

4.0

I loved the dual narration of this Greek mythology retelling. Getting both perspectives really helped bring Psyche and Eros's story to life, in this richly detailed and whimsical first novel by Luna McNamara. This forbidden love story was both heartwarming and heartwrenching, hopeful and melancholy, beautiful and dark. If you're looking for an emotional and intense read with elements of romance, humor, and a strong female lead character determined to blaze her own path as a hero, this is the story for you.