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A review by b00kh0arder
Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
5.0
When Psyche – princess of Mycenae and granddaughter of legendary hero Perseus – is born, it is prophesised that she will defeat a monster feared even by the gods themselves. To meet this destiny, Psyche eschews the life of a typical princess, spending her youth mastering both bow and blade.
Eros, the God of Desire, having witnessed the damage his arrows have caused, is convinced that love is nothing more than a form of madness. But when tasked by the jealous Aphrodite with delivering a fatal love-curse upon Psyche, he ends up pricked by his own arrow and is now doomed to love a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.
The crucial element of any love story is the lovers, and in Psyche and Eros we have a couple who are perfect foils for one another: Psyche is headstrong and forthright but with a core of warmth and compassion that is gradually brought to the fore as she learns that it is kindness, as well as bravery, that makes a true hero; Eros is world-weary and cynical, disillusioned by the disastrous consequences of meddling in the romantic affairs of both gods and mortals but, through interaction with Psyche, comes to a greater understanding and appreciation of both mortals and love beyond the initial spark of attraction. They are easy to root for and you genuinely want them to overcome the odds and succeed.
Like fairytales, retellings of Greek myths have become incredibly popular, and if you’re a fan of authors like Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint or Rachel Smythe, this is a more than worthy entry into the pantheon (so to speak).
Eros, the God of Desire, having witnessed the damage his arrows have caused, is convinced that love is nothing more than a form of madness. But when tasked by the jealous Aphrodite with delivering a fatal love-curse upon Psyche, he ends up pricked by his own arrow and is now doomed to love a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.
The crucial element of any love story is the lovers, and in Psyche and Eros we have a couple who are perfect foils for one another: Psyche is headstrong and forthright but with a core of warmth and compassion that is gradually brought to the fore as she learns that it is kindness, as well as bravery, that makes a true hero; Eros is world-weary and cynical, disillusioned by the disastrous consequences of meddling in the romantic affairs of both gods and mortals but, through interaction with Psyche, comes to a greater understanding and appreciation of both mortals and love beyond the initial spark of attraction. They are easy to root for and you genuinely want them to overcome the odds and succeed.
Like fairytales, retellings of Greek myths have become incredibly popular, and if you’re a fan of authors like Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint or Rachel Smythe, this is a more than worthy entry into the pantheon (so to speak).