Author: Nicole Sweeney

Book Review: Ascension – Nicholas Binge

Book Review: Ascension – Nicholas Binge

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release Date: April 25th 2023
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: I received an E-ARC of this book via Netgalley
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

An enormous snow-covered mountain has appeared in the Pacific Ocean. No one knows when exactly it showed up, precisely how big it might be, or how to explain its existence. When Harold Tunmore, a scientist of mysterious phenomena, is contacted by a shadowy organization to help investigate, he has no idea what he is getting into as he and his team set out for the mountain.

The higher Harold’s team ascends, the less things make sense. Time moves differently, turning minutes into hours, and hours into days. Amid the whipping cold of higher elevation, the climbers’ limbs numb and memories of their lives before the mountain begin to fade. Paranoia quickly turns to violence among the crew, and slithering, ancient creatures pursue them in the snow. Still, as the dangers increase, the mystery of the mountain compels them to its peak, where they are certain they will find their answers. Have they stumbled upon the greatest scientific discovery known to man or the seeds of their own demise?

Framed by the discovery of Harold Tunmore’s unsent letters to his family and the chilling and provocative story they tell, Ascension considers the limitations of science and faith and examines both the beautiful and the unsettling sides of human nature.

Review

I really love books that feature an expedition or climbing a mountain and creepy things start happening (I just love Michelle Paver’s books!) so when I read the premise for Ascension it sounded like exactly my cup of tea. Told through a series of letters our protagonist writes to his niece, the story follows scientist Harold Tunmore as he’s invited on an expedition to explore a mountain that has appeared in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. On arrival strange and mysterious things start happening and the higher they go the more questions arise. Can Harold and his team unravel the mystery of the mountain and will they make it out alive?

This book has such a compelling premise and it is executed so well. I really enjoyed the way the story was told in letters and Binge’s writing was so easy to get lost in. The story is paced well and Binge does an amazing job of slowly increasing that sense of unease and paranoia as the expedition climbs higher. There were certainly some really tense, creepy moments and more than a few that sent a shiver down my spine.

Ascension is quite a quick paced book that incorporates science fiction, thriller, and horror elements that make you not want to look away. Our main protagonist Harold is a really complex character, dealing with grief and the loss of everything he once knew. I really liked seeing the dynamics between the characters change as they realised just how much danger they were in.

Binge does a great job of keeping the reader guessing and I was never really sure where the story was going to go. Ascension is a gripping page turner and one that I did not want to put down. Ascension is a hugely enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more from Nicholas Binge in the future.

Book Review: The Malevolent Seven – Sebastien de Castell

Book Review: The Malevolent Seven – Sebastien de Castell

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment


Release Date: May 11th 2023
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Pages: 384
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this from my local bookshop
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Seven powerful mages want to make the world a better place. We’re going to kill them first.’

Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he’s wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn’t protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat’s a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic? Wouldn’t want a simple steel helmet or something that might, you know, protect the part of him most needed for conjuring magical forces from being bashed in with a mace (or pretty much any household object).

Now open your eyes and let me show you what a  real war mage looks like . . . but you’re probably not going to like it, because we’re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations.

At least, until such irritating concepts as friendship and the end of the world get in the way.

My name is Cade Ombra, and though I currently make my living as a mercenary wonderist, I used to have a far more noble-sounding job title – until I discovered the people I worked for weren’t quite as noble as I’d believed. Now I’m on the run and my only friend, a homicidal thunder mage, has invited me to join him on a suicide mission against the seven deadliest mages on the continent.

Time to recruit some very bad people to help us on this job . . .

Review

The newest release from Greatcoats author Sebastien de Castell, The Malevolent Seven follows war mage Cade Ombra who ends up joining six other wonderists on a suicide mission to against the deadliest mages on the planet. What could possibly go wrong?

This is my second book from Sebastien de Castell and it was such a clever, entertaining story. While I didn’t love this one as much as Traitor’s Blade, it is a really compelling read with plenty of humour. It’s a fast paced story, one that has lots of action packed moments. The world Sebastien de Castell has created is particularly intriguing and I was so fascinated by all the different types of magic in this world. The magic system felt really well thought out and the author gives the reader plenty of time to get to gripes with the wide variety of wonderists.

One of the things I found most compelling about Traitor’s Blade was how strong the character’s voices are and the same is true of the Malevolent Seven. Cade and his crew are really brilliant characters and they really shine in this story. I loved that this was a story from the point of view of the bad guys and it felt like such a fun and fresh read. The short chapters definitely had me saying ‘oh just one more chapter’ because I just had to know what was going to happen next.

The Malevolent Seven is full to the brim with magic, mayhem and danger. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you guessing and keep you hooked right to the very last page, this one should definitely be on your wishlist.

Book Review: Daughter of Redwinter – Ed McDonald

Book Review: Daughter of Redwinter – Ed McDonald

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Redwinter Chronicles #1
Release Date: June 28th 2022
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 345
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

If you can see the dead, you will soon be one of them…

Raine can see—and more importantly, speak—to the dead. It’s a wretched gift with a death sentence that has her doing many dubious things to save her skin. Seeking refuge with a deluded cult is her latest bad, survival-related decision. But her rare act of kindness—rescuing an injured woman in the snow—is even worse.

Because the woman has escaped from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king and who will stop at nothing to retrieve what she’s stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation forces Raine to enter Redwinter. It becomes clear that her ability might save an entire nation.

Pity she might have to die for that to happen…

Review

Ed McDonald’s Raven’s Mark series is one of my all time favourite trilogies so I was incredibly excited to read his newest release, Daughter of Redwinter. The story follows Raine, a young woman with the ability to see the dead. Having this ability is a death sentence and if anyone finds out she will be killed. When Raine finds herself at Redwinter, she wants nothing more than to be trained as one of the legendary Draoihn, but instead is forced to serve the apprentices she hoped to train with. When Raine uncovers a plot to harm the van of the LacNaithe clan, Raine has to use her ability to save everyone she knows.

Daughter of Redwinter is a book that feels completely different to McDonald’s previous work. While the story is dark, it doesn’t feel quite as grim. This first instalment is compelling and while it took me a little while to really get into the story, I was completely captivated. The story is well executed and I was definitely on the edge of my seat for the latter half of the book. There were some surprises I didn’t quite expect the ending has made me absolutely desperate to pick up Traitor of Redwinter.

The Raven’s Mark series has really detailed world building and this is true of Daughter of Redwinter also. The magic system based around gates was fascinating and Raine’s ability to see the dead made for some particularly eerie and dark scenes. McDonald explains the magic and history clearly without info-dumping and I can’t wait to see how the world expands as the story continues.

Raine is a really fascinating protagonist and she undergoes so much in one story. I loved seeing her grow as a person and can’t wait to see where the story takes her. I particularly liked seeing her friendships grow with the other girls at Redwinter. I also really liked Sanvaunt and Ulovar and hope we get to see more of them in book two.

Daughter of Redwinter is a tense, gripping start to a new fantasy series. If you’re looking for a book that will have you turning pages long into the night, then look no further than this.

Book Review: March’s End – Daniel Polansky

Book Review: March’s End – Daniel Polansky

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release Date: May 9th 2023
Publisher: Angry Robot Books
Pages: 388
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Synopsis

March’s End is a multi-generational portal fantasy of strange magics, epic warfare, and deadly intrigue, in which the personality conflicts and toxic struggles of the Harrow family are reflected in the fantasy world they’ve sworn to protect.

The Harrows are a typical suburban family who, since time immemorial, have borne a sacred and terrible charge. In the daylight they are teachers, doctors, bartenders and vagrants, but at night they are the rulers and protectors of the March, a fantastical secondary world populated with animate antiquated toys and sentient lichen, a panorama of the impossible where cities are carried on the backs of giant snails, and thunderstorms can be subdued with song.

But beneath this dreamlike exterior lie dark secrets, and for generation after generation the Harrows have defended the March from the perils that wait outside its borders – when they are not consumed in their own bitter internecine quarrels.

In the modern day the Harrow clan are composed of Sophia, the High Queen of the March, a brilliant, calculating matriarch, and her three children – noble Constance, visionary, rebellious Mary Ann, and clever, amoral Will. Moving back and forth between their youth, adolescence, and adulthood, we watch as this family fractures, then reconciles in the face of a conflict endangering not only the existence of the March, but of the ‘real world’ itself.

THE MARCH’S END is a book about growing up, in which the familial struggles of the Harrows are threaded through the mythic history of the fantastical land they protect. It is a story of failure and redemption, in which the power of love is tested against forces that seek to break it, and the necessity of each generation to recreate itself is asserted.

Review

I really enjoyed Daniel Polansky’s Empty Throne books so I was really intrigued to try something else from them. March’s End is a Narnia style story which follows the Harrow family who on the surface look like a normal, everyday family but are also the rulers of a magical world known as the March. When the March is threatened by the End, the Harrow siblings must reconcile their differences and work together to stop the End not only destroying the March but spilling to the human world too.

March’s End has a really intriguing premise and the story is a compelling one, however, the story does skip around quite a bit, following Sophia, Constance, Mary-Ann and John in the past and present as well as in the real world and in the March. I found all the jumping around a bit difficult to follow and that meant I was less invested in the story. Polansky has a really engaging writing style and I was fascinated by the world of the March and the wide variety of creatures that made up this world.

The thing I found most compelling about March’s End wasn’t so much the magical world and the battle against the End, but the siblings and their family dynamics. Constance, Mary-Ann and John are fascinating characters, each having a coming of age story as they deal with growing up in the real world and the expectations of being a Harrow of the March. I really liked how the dynamics of the siblings changed as the story progressed, particularly as John attempts to rival Constance for the throne.

March’s End is a clever story and one I think fantasy fans will really enjoy. March’s End is definitely a fresh take on the Narnia tale and while it wasn’t a new favourite I am definitely keen to read more from Daniel Polansky.

Book Review: Scarlet – Genevieve Cogman

Book Review: Scarlet – Genevieve Cogman

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Scarlet #1
Release Date: May 11th 2023
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 336
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

A thrilling reinvention of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.

In Revolutionary France, the aristocrats are vampires – and they face the guillotine. However, the Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, is determined to rescue them. These predators are being offered sanctuary by their aristocratic British kin, but at great cost to London’s ordinary people. Then an English maid discovers the only power that could stop them. Assuming she survives.

Scarlet is the first book in the trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution.

Review

I’ve always wanted to try Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series but haven’t gotten around to it, so when I heard this would be the first in an all new trilogy I jumped at the chance to read it. A reimagining of the Scarlet Pimpernel, the story follows Eleanor, a young maid who happens to look a whole lot like Marie Antoinette. Tasked with assisting the League to rescue Marie Antoinette and her children, Eleanor embarks on a daring adventure in revolutionary France. But with the aristocrats and vampires being sent to the guillotine, will Eleanor be able to complete her mission and survive unscathed?

Scarlet is such a fun and entertaining read. I must admit I know virtually nothing about the Scarlet Pimpernel, but that didn’t stop me from being completely captivated by this story. Fast paced and full of action, this is such a clever and well executed story. I loved the idea of ‘the French Revolution with vampires’ and Cogman did a brilliant job of weaving the vampires into the story. They weren’t present as much as I expected them to be, so I am intrigued to see if vampires will feature more heavily in the subsequent books. Cogman also really brings the sights and sounds of Revolutionary France to life and I loved the vivid descriptions of Paris.

Eleanor is a really interesting main protagonist. She wants to do what’s right and help people, but also can’t help agreeing with some of the revolutionary ideas. I was really fascinated by the way Eleanor grappled with being part of the League but also not being an aristocrat. The other characters felt well developed and I enjoyed seeing how Eleanor’s relationships with the other League members changed as she became more involved with their adventure. Scarlet is a gripping story, full of adventure and mayhem. Cogman has created a really fantastic opening to the series and I cannot wait to see where the characters will go in books two and three.

Book Review: Blood Debts – Terry J. Benton-Walker

Book Review: Blood Debts – Terry J. Benton-Walker

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment


Release Date: April 4th 2023
Publisher: Hodderscape
Pages: 416
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Thirty years ago, a young woman was murdered, a family was lynched, and New Orleans saw the greatest magical massacre in its history. In the days that followed, a throne was stolen from a queen.

On the anniversary of these brutal events, Clement and Cristina Trudeau—the sixteen-year-old twin heirs to the powerful, magical, dethroned family—are mourning their father and caring for their sick mother. Until, by chance, they discover their mother isn’t sick—she’s cursed. Cursed by someone on the very magic council their family used to rule. Someone who will come for them next.

Cristina, once a talented and dedicated practitioner of Generational magic, has given up magic for good. An ancient spell is what killed their father and she was the one who cast it. For Clement, magic is his lifeline. A distraction from his anger and pain. Even better than the random guys he hooks up with.

Cristina and Clement used to be each other’s most trusted confidant and friend, now they barely speak. But if they have any hope of discovering who is coming after their family, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other and their family’s magic, all while solving the decades-old murder that sparked the still-rising tensions between the city’s magical and non-magical communities. And if they don’t succeed, New Orleans may see another massacre. Or worse.

Review

Set in a magical New Orleans, the story follows twins Clement and Cristina Trudeau – heirs to an ancient magical family. The twins are still reeling from the death of their father and are trying to care for their dying mother when they discover their mother isn’t sick – she’s been cursed by someone from the magical council their family once ruled. Can the twins come together and discover who is trying to destroy their family before it’s too late?

Blood Debts is a clever, compelling fantasy story that had me hooked right from the very first chapter. The story is thought-provoking, well-paced, and features a really interesting magic system. The story is full to the brim with magic and mystery and I had no idea where the story was going to go. I loved seeing the twins work together in their attempt to uncover who was threatening their family. Blood Debts definitely keep me captivated right till the very end and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Blood Debts features some interesting protagonists and both Clement and Cristina felt well developed. Both are dealing with the loss of their father, trying to find themselves, sort out their love lives, and deal with the magical threat against their family. Blood Debts is an enticing and engaging read, full of drama, mystery, and magic. If you’re looking for a gripping YA read this one should definitely be your next read.

Book Review: Bitterthorn – Kat Dunn

Book Review: Bitterthorn – Kat Dunn

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release Date: May 4th 2023
Publisher: Andersen Press
Pages: 368
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Blumwald is a town overshadowed by an ancient curse: in a sinister castle in the depths of the wild wood lives a monstrous Witch. Once a generation, she comes to claim a companion to return with her – never to be seen again. Now that time is drawing near once more…

Mina, daughter of the duke, is grieving and lonely. She has lost all hope of any future for herself in Blumwald. So when the Witch demands her next companion, Mina offers herself up – though she has no idea what fate awaits her. Stranded with her darkly alluring captor, the mystery of what happened to the previous companions draws Mina into the heart of a terrifying secret that could save her life, or end it.

Review

Bitterthorn tells the story of Mina, a young woman, and daughter of the duke of Blumwald. Once in a generation, Blumwald is terrorised by the Witch, who comes to take a new companion. Once taken, a companion is never seen again. When Mina is herself taken as the new companion, she finds herself living in a remote castle, strangely drawn to the Witch. But with so many secrets, will she find out the truth behind the disappearance of the previous companions?

I absolutely loved Kat Dunn’s Battalion of the Dead series so this was one of my most anticipated releases. As soon as I picked this one up I was immediately drawn into the story. The story is full to the brim with atmosphere and beautiful, lyrical writing. It has a very fairytale-like feel to the story and I couldn’t help devouring Bitterthorn in a single sitting. The story is well paced and there is plenty of mystery and intrigue to keep the reader wanting more. I really liked the setting and the remote castle really came to life in Dunn’s writing.

Mina is an interesting protagonist and I really enjoyed seeing her relationship with the Witch develop.  Mina is struggling to find a place she belongs and is determined to uncover the secrets in the castle. The Witch is similarly interesting and I loved seeing the dynamics in their relationship change and adapt as the story progressed. Bitterthorn definitely has some twists and turns and more than a few moments I wasn’t expecting. If you’re looking for a captivating, fairytale story, Bitterthorn is an absolute must read and has such a stunning cover. I completely adored this story and cannot wait to see what Kat Dunn writes next.

Book Review: No Heart for a Thief – James Lloyd Dulin

Book Review: No Heart for a Thief – James Lloyd Dulin

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Malitu #1
Publisher: G&D Publishing
Pages: 428
Find it on: Goodreads. Amazon.
Source: The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

We are the stories we tell ourselves…even the lies.

The Thief, a great spirit, and her descendants have abused their ability to steal magic for centuries. When Kaylo starts to hear the song of other people’s magic, he must learn to hide from his people as well as the invaders. A gift or a curse, Kaylo may be able to save his people from the Gousht Empire that claimed their land with this stolen magic.

Eighteen years later, Kaylo still prays to the spirits, but not out of loyalty or love. He knows better than to rely on those selfish bastards for anything. While hiding in the forest from his foolish acts of rebellion, he encounters a girl, Tayen, being pursued by two soldiers of the empire. Against his better judgment, he risks facing the consequences of his past to intervene.

When Tayen attempts to run off seeking vengeance for her family, he offers to train her to wield her magic and a blade. If he can’t convince her to relinquish her need for vengeance and stave off the demons of his past, he’s going to get them both killed.

Review

No Heart for a Thief is the first in a new epic fantasy series that follows Tayen, a young girl seeking vengeance for the murder of her family by soldiers of the Gousht Empire. When she meets Kaylo the famous thief with the ability to steal magic, he saves her and offers to help her learn how to control her magic and how to wield a weapon. As Kaylo and Tayen work together, Kaylo recounts his life and the mistakes he has made – will Kaylo be able to stop Tayen’s quest for vengeance and escape the demons he’s hiding from?

No Heart for a Thief really caught my eye because of the intriguing premise and right from the get-go I was hooked. Dulin has weaved a complex and compelling tale, one that I found myself dying to get back to when I had to put the book down. I really enjoyed Dulin’s writing style and the story was well paced, giving the reader plenty of time to get to know the characters and world. I similarly felt that the world building was well developed and am so eager to see more of the world in subsequent books. One of the things I enjoyed most about the writing were the dynamic action scenes that Dulin brought to life. No Heart for a thief is an action packed tale, and there are plenty of tense moments that will have the reader on the edge of their seat.

Although there is plenty of action the story feels very character focused. I really enjoyed the way the narrative unfolded, we follow Kaylo and Tayen in the current day as Tayen trains and they attempt to escape the Gousht soldiers. We also follow Kaylo as a young boy and see how his life unfolds, as he learns to control his power and grow into the person he has become. Both characters felt complex and well developed, each dealing with their own haunted pasts and it was interesting to draw similarities between them. I really liked both protagonists and cannot wait to see where the story will take them. Dulin has created a fascinating world with a really unique magic system. No Heart for a Thief is a clever and engaging read and I am already itching to read book two.

Book Review: The Last Witch of Scotland – Philip Paris

Book Review: The Last Witch of Scotland – Philip Paris

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release Date: April 13th 2023
Publisher: Black & White Publishing
Pages: 306
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

Being a woman was her only crime.

Scottish Highlands, 1727.

In the aftermath of a tragic fire that kills her father, Aila and her mother, Janet , move to the remote parish of Loth, north-west of Inverness. Blending in does not come easily to the Aila was badly burned in the fire and left with visible injuries, while her mother struggles to maintain her grip on reality. When a temporary minister is appointed in the area, rather than welcome the two women, he develops a strange curiosity for them that sets them even further apart from the community.

Then arrives a motley troupe of travelling entertainers from Edinburgh, led by the charismatic but mysterious Jack . It is just the distraction Janet, and particularly Aila, for the first time in a long while, their lives are filling with joy and friendship, and a kind of hope Aila hasn’t known since her father’s death. But in this small community, faith is more powerful than truth, and whispers more dangerous even than fire.

Haunting and deeply moving, The Last Witch of Scotland is a story of love, loyalty and sacrifice, inspired by the true story of the last person to be executed for witchcraft in Britain.

Perfect for fans of Outlander, The Mercies and The Witches of Vardo, or for anyone with an interest in the history of witchcraft, late renaissance Scotland and Highland history.

Review

I am absolutely fascinated by historical fiction books that revolve around witchcraft so when I saw that the Last Witch of Scotland was inspired by the true events surrounding the last woman to be hanged as a witch, I just knew I had to read it. The story follows Aila and her mother Janet as they move to a remote town near Inverness, following a horrific fire that killed Aila’s father. When a temporary minister moves to the area he develops a fascination with Aila and her mother that begins to alienate them from the community – but at what cost?

The Last Witch of Scotland is a moving, haunting tale and one that I kept thinking about even when I wasn’t reading it. The story felt so detailed and well researched and the writing style meant the story was really easy to get into. The story is quite quick paced so I definitely found myself glued to the story. Told in alternating points of view, I really liked both Aila and Jack as the main protagonists. They both had compelling storylines and complicated pasts and it was fascinating to see their relationship develop.

Despite having some harrowing moments, The Last Witch of Scotland does have quite a hopeful ending and this was something I hadn’t expected but really enjoyed. The Last Witch of Scotland is a beautifully written story and if you’re a fan of books like The Witches of Vardo this should definitely be on your wishlist.

Blog Tour: Psyche and Eros – Luna McNamara

Blog Tour: Psyche and Eros – Luna McNamara

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment


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. If Psyche ever looks upon Eros the curse will split them apart. Will they find a way to break the curse and 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.