Release Date: May 25th 2023
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 336
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis
In this utterly transporting reimagining of Greek mythology, the god of desire is cursed to fall for a spirited young mortal woman, but if she looks upon his face they will be parted forever—an epic adventure and love story for the ages, sure to satisfy fans of Madeline Miller and V.E. Schwab
Who said true love is a myth?
A prophecy claims that Psyche, princess of Mycenae, will defeat a monster feared even by the gods. Rebelling against her society’s expectations for women, Psyche spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to meet her destiny.
When Psyche angers the love goddess Aphrodite, she sends Eros, god of desire, to deliver a cruel curse. After eons watching humanity twist his gifts, the last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world. But when he pricks himself with the arrow intended for Psyche, Eros finds himself doomed to yearn for a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.
Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and divine powers try to keep them apart, the pair must determine if the curse could become something more . . . before it’s too late.
Review
Psyche and Eros is a beautifully told Greek myth retelling. I was initially drawn in by that beautiful cover and was completely hooked from the outset. The story follows Psyche, the princess of Mycenae, who angers the goddess of love Aphrodite. As revenge, Aphrodite sends Eros to deliver a curse to Psyche. However when Eros is hit with the arrow meant for Psyche, he finds himself in love with her. With the gods determined to keep them apart, will they be able to survive the Trojan War and find a way to be together?
I really enjoy reading Greek myth retellings however the story of Psyche and Eros isn’t one that I am particularly familiar with. I was really captivated by the story but having no knowledge of the original, I cannot say how much the story has changed. Psyche and Eros is a beautiful, vibrant tale and the setting and world really came to life in McNamara’s prose. The story was quite quick paced so I found myself getting gripped quite early on and turning pages long into the night.
Where Psyche and Eros excels most is the characters. Psyche in particular is a really compelling protagonist and she has a very vivid and confident personality that leaps off the page. She’s an aspiring warrior and determined to fulfill her dreams. I really enjoyed both perspectives in the story and Eros similarly felt well developed and fleshed out. Psyche and Eros is a really fun, engaging reimagining of the famous Greek myth, and if you’re looking for a captivating read this should absolutely be on your reading list.