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A review by emmirosereads
The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free copy of this book for an honest review.
I finished this book a day ago and I still cannot fully wrap my head around my true feelings for this book, especially with the myth of Eros and Psyche meaning so much to me. I was so excited to see a sapphic retelling. There were some parts that I loved and that moved me. While other parts felt like they dragged on far too long.
I will say, the author's writing is lyrical and beautiful. There were many moving passages in this book. This book read very much like an original myth. Whether that particular part was a good thing for me or not is hard to tell. Despite being less than 300 pages it felt like it dragged on and could have been shortened.
The discussion of gender and being nonbinary was also very moving. That first conversation Eros had with Psyche about it struck me and was so beautiful. However, I wish it wasn't halfway through the book with almost zero references to Eros' identity in the first half. I didn't mind and quite liked the discussion of gender and the fluidity of it for Eros until the part about the deal made with Zeus about having to watch Eros have sex nine times in the male form before she was free to shift however much she wanted. I get this is Greek mythology and weird shit like this is common but in a modern retelling this just felt gross and unneeded. I feel like the story would have just as much impact without it.l
The differences and creative liberties taken within this retelling, for the most part, felt honest and true to the original myth and the original characters in the myth (besides what was mentioned in spoilers above.). Even though I'm not a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope, I do think there was good value in adding it to this story. I think it gives Psyche a much more valid reason for betraying Eros that makes sense.
Ultimately, while I did struggle through chunks of this book, I think it's worth the read and I don't regret picking it up. I think it was wrapped up beautifully.
I finished this book a day ago and I still cannot fully wrap my head around my true feelings for this book, especially with the myth of Eros and Psyche meaning so much to me. I was so excited to see a sapphic retelling. There were some parts that I loved and that moved me. While other parts felt like they dragged on far too long.
I will say, the author's writing is lyrical and beautiful. There were many moving passages in this book. This book read very much like an original myth. Whether that particular part was a good thing for me or not is hard to tell. Despite being less than 300 pages it felt like it dragged on and could have been shortened.
The discussion of gender and being nonbinary was also very moving. That first conversation Eros had with Psyche about it struck me and was so beautiful. However, I wish it wasn't halfway through the book with almost zero references to Eros' identity in the first half.
The differences and creative liberties taken within this retelling, for the most part, felt honest and true to the original myth and the original characters in the myth (besides what was mentioned in spoilers above.).
Ultimately, while I did struggle through chunks of this book, I think it's worth the read and I don't regret picking it up. I think it was wrapped up beautifully.