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The Palace of Eros
Young, headstrong Psyche has captured the eyes of every suitor in town and far beyond with her tempestuous beauty, which has made her irresistible as a woman yet undesirable as a wife. Secretly, she longs for a life away from the expectations and demands of men. When her father realizes that the future of his family and town will be forever cursed unless he appeases an enraged Aphrodite, he follows the orders of the Oracle, tying Psyche to a rock to be ravaged by a monstrous husband. And yet a monster never arrives.
When Eros, nonbinary deity of desire, sees Psyche, she cannot fulfill her promise to her mother Aphrodite to destroy the mortal young woman. Instead, Eros devises a plan to sweep Psyche away to an idyllic palace, hidden from the prying eyes of Aphrodite, Zeus, and the outside world. There, against the dire dictates of Olympus, Eros and Psyche fall in love. Each night, Eros visits Psyche under the cover of impenetrable darkness, where they both experience untold passion and love. But each morning, Eros flies away before light comes to break the spell of the palace that keeps them safe.
Before long, Psyche’s nights spent in pleasure turn to days filled with doubts, as she grapples with the cost of secrecy and the complexities of freedom and desire. Restless and spurred by her sisters to reveal Eros’s true nature, she breaks her trust and forces a reckoning that tests them both—and transforms the very heavens.
Told in bold and sparkling prose, The Palace of Eros transports us to a magical world imbued by divine forces as well as everyday realities, where palaces glitter with magic even as ordinary people fight for freedom in a society that fears the unknown.
When Eros, nonbinary deity of desire, sees Psyche, she cannot fulfill her promise to her mother Aphrodite to destroy the mortal young woman. Instead, Eros devises a plan to sweep Psyche away to an idyllic palace, hidden from the prying eyes of Aphrodite, Zeus, and the outside world. There, against the dire dictates of Olympus, Eros and Psyche fall in love. Each night, Eros visits Psyche under the cover of impenetrable darkness, where they both experience untold passion and love. But each morning, Eros flies away before light comes to break the spell of the palace that keeps them safe.
Before long, Psyche’s nights spent in pleasure turn to days filled with doubts, as she grapples with the cost of secrecy and the complexities of freedom and desire. Restless and spurred by her sisters to reveal Eros’s true nature, she breaks her trust and forces a reckoning that tests them both—and transforms the very heavens.
Told in bold and sparkling prose, The Palace of Eros transports us to a magical world imbued by divine forces as well as everyday realities, where palaces glitter with magic even as ordinary people fight for freedom in a society that fears the unknown.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
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May 17, 2024
Believe me when I say I so wish I could have liked this more. When I was approved for an e-arc that I requested based on the very basic premise of this novel being a queer sapphic retelling of a Greek myth, I was HOOKED, but this was such a disappointment that I’m having trouble finding anything positive to say about it apart from the fact that it exists.
I’m not the biggest Greek Mythology fan out there, I didn’t know the original myth before diving into this novel, but I do know that I will always be here for a queer retelling of ANYTHING. As a queer reader myself, keeping a balance between “I’m just glad this queer story exists no matter how good or bad” and “telling queer stories isn’t an end in itself, they need to accomplish something” isn’t easy. This novel will, for some people, undoubtedly be exactly what they needed and have always looked for, and that’s great, but I wish it had at least been GOOD.
I know taste and enjoyment are subjective, but I buddy-read this with a friend of mine and we were both in agreement that this book is severely lacking in almost every major department, including writing (style), plot, and dialogue.
PSA: I received a digital reader advanced copy of this novel and can’t say what changes this will go through before being published. However, while it’s very likely that small details will change, I don’t think the writing style will.
If there is one thing I will forever do it’s comparing every Greek Mythology retelling to The Song of Achilles. It’s unfair, it’s biased, but I can’t help it. Madeline Miller set a gold standard that many writers will struggle to achieve. However, when comparing De Robertis’s writing to Miller’s, it falls flat on its nose. Where Miller’s prose is just the right shade short of purple, De Robertis’s takes elaborate and flowery to a whole new level. Similes follow metaphors follow too luscious imagery follows hyperboles on every page, constantly, so that the plot itself, the words’ meaning is completely lost, and needs to be uncovered before one can even attempt to understand it.
There are nuggets of gold to be found, for sure:
“All of time collapses in the immediacy of desire.”
“Those of us who’ve been broken have more shards inside us than we know – and who among us has not been broken, as women in this world?”
Beautiful quotes, no notes!! 💕💘❤️
Other quotes, however, looked like this:
That’s so many words to say nothing. 😩
no, you didn’t misread, that’s one sentence. ONE effing SENTENCE. And this is not an anomaly. There are several paragraphs in this book consisting of a single sentence covering a good ten or more lines.
The writing was already hard to digest with how densely flowery it was, but this took the cake.
I find that in general, it seemed like the author really enjoyed the sound or flow of their own writing, which I’m usually fine with as long as their words are saying something!!
Like god, I wish I could find something inspirational or true in-between those words, but every time I tried, I got the biggest headaches, I simply stopped trying after a while and was just reading the words, not willing to try to comprehend them.
Aside from the writing, I couldn’t get behind the author’s decision to write Eros’s POV in the third person but Psyche’s POV in the first person. Since Psyche isn’t the most interesting character ever conceived, spending a lot of time immersed in her inner thoughts and feelings became tedious.
Eros, as the non-binary goddess going by she/her pronouns, would have been interesting to explore in 1st-person POV, not only because she is an outsider in the pantheon of gods and goddesses, but also because some of her actions (like not divulging her true identity to Psyche, taking her against her will, keeping her imprisoned in her dream castle etc.) definitely paint her as more of a morally grey than a 100% good person.
Given how even the original myth lacks plot and excitement for the entire time in-between Psyche’s arrival at Eros’s dream castle and Psyche’s leaving the dream castle, you would need to be a darn good writer to not let that part of the story become boring pretty quickly. This is when to use beautiful and flowery writing to fill the space and support a basically non-existent plot.
De Robertis does this well in writing about Psyche’s musings about art and poetry, the beauty of nature, about lust and affection, but even though Eros’s and Psyche’s shared nights are filled with heavy longing and desire that are passionately explored and beautifully expressed, that part of the novel did drag immensely. Psyche spends every day painting and weaving– occasionally superseded by minutes or hours of masturbating – and every night Eros and Psyche make love.
Not only could this segment of the novel have been tightened immensely, but it was also filled with non-sensical dialogue that, to me, didn’t come across as authentic in how two people would converse with each other:
I just- OUFF. 🥲
Me when I have to hit my word count for this review. ✍️
Me when I have to hit my word count for this review. ✍️
While the story itself is ultimately queer- and non-binary affirming, uplifting, and while it deserves special attention for being a Latin-American own-voices narrative that poses interesting questions about the assumed heteronormativity of Greek myths, the novel comes with a lot of flaws that hindered my enjoyment of it severely.
As always, thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not the biggest Greek Mythology fan out there, I didn’t know the original myth before diving into this novel, but I do know that I will always be here for a queer retelling of ANYTHING. As a queer reader myself, keeping a balance between “I’m just glad this queer story exists no matter how good or bad” and “telling queer stories isn’t an end in itself, they need to accomplish something” isn’t easy. This novel will, for some people, undoubtedly be exactly what they needed and have always looked for, and that’s great, but I wish it had at least been GOOD.
I know taste and enjoyment are subjective, but I buddy-read this with a friend of mine and we were both in agreement that this book is severely lacking in almost every major department, including writing (style), plot, and dialogue.
PSA: I received a digital reader advanced copy of this novel and can’t say what changes this will go through before being published. However, while it’s very likely that small details will change, I don’t think the writing style will.
If there is one thing I will forever do it’s comparing every Greek Mythology retelling to The Song of Achilles. It’s unfair, it’s biased, but I can’t help it. Madeline Miller set a gold standard that many writers will struggle to achieve. However, when comparing De Robertis’s writing to Miller’s, it falls flat on its nose. Where Miller’s prose is just the right shade short of purple, De Robertis’s takes elaborate and flowery to a whole new level. Similes follow metaphors follow too luscious imagery follows hyperboles on every page, constantly, so that the plot itself, the words’ meaning is completely lost, and needs to be uncovered before one can even attempt to understand it.
There are nuggets of gold to be found, for sure:
“All of time collapses in the immediacy of desire.”
“Those of us who’ve been broken have more shards inside us than we know – and who among us has not been broken, as women in this world?”
Beautiful quotes, no notes!! 💕💘❤️
Other quotes, however, looked like this:
“A chance at everything, I thought, to hear only what’s inside me shouting true, I want to let the rest of the world’s noise dissolve, even if only for one night, I don’t know what I am or who I am but tonight, right now, I know what I want, and so what if the laws of gods and men would slay me for it, who cares, they already tried to slay me and here I am.”
That’s so many words to say nothing. 😩
“She came here on some winged creature through the night sky, she is a woman free to roam the sky, a woman with a palace, a woman whose days are hidden from you, a woman who can do outrageous things to another woman’s body, a woman whose power is mountainous, whose strength is vast, whose charm is boundless, you’d never imagined such a woman could be, yet here she is, and far be it from you to anger her when she’s already given you so much, how could you ask for more, when she has chosen you for this adventure for some inscrutable reason you’ll never understand, just as it’s impossible to understand how this adventure can exist or what the scope of it will be, but there it is, the need to clasp it close and not let go because you want this life she’s offered you, want it with every fiber of your being, yet also want to hold on to your own knowing, however tiny it may be compared to hers.”
no, you didn’t misread, that’s one sentence. ONE effing SENTENCE. And this is not an anomaly. There are several paragraphs in this book consisting of a single sentence covering a good ten or more lines.
The writing was already hard to digest with how densely flowery it was, but this took the cake.
I find that in general, it seemed like the author really enjoyed the sound or flow of their own writing, which I’m usually fine with as long as their words are saying something!!
“I longed for so much that I almost longed for everything, which is a feeling so vast it curves in on itself, toward the start of the circle, where everything becomes nothing, and the longing for everything blurs into longing for nothing, a subsuming in the longing itself, pure, raw, swallowing you whole.”
Like god, I wish I could find something inspirational or true in-between those words, but every time I tried, I got the biggest headaches, I simply stopped trying after a while and was just reading the words, not willing to try to comprehend them.
Aside from the writing, I couldn’t get behind the author’s decision to write Eros’s POV in the third person but Psyche’s POV in the first person. Since Psyche isn’t the most interesting character ever conceived, spending a lot of time immersed in her inner thoughts and feelings became tedious.
Eros, as the non-binary goddess going by she/her pronouns, would have been interesting to explore in 1st-person POV, not only because she is an outsider in the pantheon of gods and goddesses, but also because some of her actions (like not divulging her true identity to Psyche, taking her against her will, keeping her imprisoned in her dream castle etc.) definitely paint her as more of a morally grey than a 100% good person.
Given how even the original myth lacks plot and excitement for the entire time in-between Psyche’s arrival at Eros’s dream castle and Psyche’s leaving the dream castle, you would need to be a darn good writer to not let that part of the story become boring pretty quickly. This is when to use beautiful and flowery writing to fill the space and support a basically non-existent plot.
De Robertis does this well in writing about Psyche’s musings about art and poetry, the beauty of nature, about lust and affection, but even though Eros’s and Psyche’s shared nights are filled with heavy longing and desire that are passionately explored and beautifully expressed, that part of the novel did drag immensely. Psyche spends every day painting and weaving– occasionally superseded by minutes or hours of masturbating – and every night Eros and Psyche make love.
Not only could this segment of the novel have been tightened immensely, but it was also filled with non-sensical dialogue that, to me, didn’t come across as authentic in how two people would converse with each other:
“But there is room for them.
It’s not for them.
It’s all for me?
Yes.
So, then – what you’re saying is, this is my home?
Of course it’s your home.
And what I want matters? You don’t own me?
You already know-
You said it before. But what about now?
How can you say such a thing?
Why won’t you answer?”
I just- OUFF. 🥲
“How will I live through this? How does any creature live? What is alive keeps going. Keeps listening. Watching. Taking the next breath and the next.”
Me when I have to hit my word count for this review. ✍️
“Could this moment be real? What is real? What is the world?”
Me when I have to hit my word count for this review. ✍️
While the story itself is ultimately queer- and non-binary affirming, uplifting, and while it deserves special attention for being a Latin-American own-voices narrative that poses interesting questions about the assumed heteronormativity of Greek myths, the novel comes with a lot of flaws that hindered my enjoyment of it severely.
As always, thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2024
3.5⭐️
RTC
RTC
Want to read
April 3, 2024i was told eros is a lesbian with weird gender stuff going on and that's all it takes to sell me on smthn
September 1, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
A queer retelling of the Eros and Psyche Greek myth. I liked the storyline but must admit that the Psyche chapters and p.o.v were more detailed, so I felt more swayed by her story. Although the Aphrodite and Eros relationship made for some good family drama. I read somewhere that Eros and Psyche have long been considered one of the most beautiful love stories and Caro de Robertis kept that vibe with their slant on the story.
Publication Date 13/08/24
Goodreads Review 31/08/24
A queer retelling of the Eros and Psyche Greek myth. I liked the storyline but must admit that the Psyche chapters and p.o.v were more detailed, so I felt more swayed by her story. Although the Aphrodite and Eros relationship made for some good family drama. I read somewhere that Eros and Psyche have long been considered one of the most beautiful love stories and Caro de Robertis kept that vibe with their slant on the story.
Publication Date 13/08/24
Goodreads Review 31/08/24
April 13, 2024
holy shit. what a beautiful and transcendent reading experience. De Robertis has the skill and competence to capture the essence of the myth and make it narratively stunning with compelling characters and an incredible atmosphere. their writing is simply gorgeous and i will go through each point while trying not to spoil this so bear with me on this one!
first of all, i do not just drop the word "beautiful" without conscious thought and intention. i mean it wholeheartedly: this novel is beautiful. i wanted to sob several times, but i noticed that this overwhelming feeling came over me when tender and innocent thoughts are put into words so precisely and whenever there is a deep yearning for a better world for women. everything was so richly imagined; so vivid were the fields, rivers, and ocean and the characters were so authentically represented, from the sisters to the goddesses. the writing played a huge role in all this, of course, and i found the lyrical prose so emotive and graceful. the sweet innocence of Psyche and her child-like wonder and glee upon glorious freedom within the palace of Eros, her journey to self-discovery and finding agency in her own life, and her fulfilment of identity and her solid certainty by the end of it were captured in its full beauty and marvel. it brought out feelings of wonder in myself, about how much words can have an impact on how i see the world and myself, but most especially— it made me realize how utterly beautiful it is to be able to live in this world and experience life as it is. for instance, it made me appreciate the ocean and the beauty of its primordial being. its sounds and waves and its vast, ancient body brought about so much appreciation for my existence at this point in time, when i can recognize its immeasurable being and my privilege of being myself. now, if you know me, i was very suicidal, so this acknowledgment from me is a pretty big deal. my point is that: this novel has imparted in me a deep and beautiful message that had made my reading experience transcendent (there really is no other word for it)!
bouncing off from that statement, i would like to emphasize that the writing is genuinely so exquisite. this is divine prose. De Robertis has the skill to look into the minds of Psyche and Eros, and the ability to write them so realistically. it requires great effort, not to mention competence and finesse, to execute such a narrative so satisfyingly. the author was able to give so much dimension to Psyche as a woman and as a human person and also offer a different perspective to the myth. the characterization of other deities must have also been fun to imagine, as the writing has shown. so i must give praise to the artistry and sophistication that the author has showcased, as i do not think i have ever read a combination of words as unique and clever before this. i have read many novels with similarly gorgeous prose, but none so like De Robertis', which is distinctive in their efficiency and brevity. i really enjoyed reading the words and knowing how much intention was put into each word choice, with as much nuance as the English language can give anyway. i was enthralled.
moving onwards to the themes of the novel, i thought the discussions were well done. i don't know how else to describe it but the integration of all these themes were incorporated into the narrative seamlessly. i understand the separation of the phallus to the male identity and i really appreciated how Eros was depicted as trans, which came as a delight to me. because how often do we encounter feminist stories that are trans inclusive? i was elated to come across such a story because i would not have given this a chance if it were the typical mundane Greek retelling. there are only some details about Eros' story that did not sit well with me. i do understand that Greek retellings are uncomfortable given its incestuous and male-centered foundations, but i felt that some were not necessary nor vital to the narrative being shaped here. i also understand that Eros needed a greater reason than her mother's rage to be doing all this, so i am still considering my rating; otherwise, the novel is really perfect. i do not think this is anything major to deter you from reading though. i especially liked Psyche's detailed experiences of freedom and it never came across as tedious or repetitive to me. her acknowledgment of her desire and her discovering her identity were endearing to me, as a repressed girlie myself. i enjoyed reading every little realization she has about anything and every little discovery she comes to terms with, even as she paints and weaves and lusts— to experience all this through Psyche moved me. again, the writing is so full of emotion. one cannot help but feel a tenderness towards Psyche, her innocence and fact of being will endear anyone.
finally, have i said that the prose is gorgeous? no? okay, i will say it again: the prose is gorgeous. beautiful. stunning. DIVINE. it was the foundation of the dreamy atmosphere and i cannot seem to stress it enough how insanely well-written this is, in all aspects (except one). please read this when it comes out, you will not regret the time spent on this masterpiece!
first of all, i do not just drop the word "beautiful" without conscious thought and intention. i mean it wholeheartedly: this novel is beautiful. i wanted to sob several times, but i noticed that this overwhelming feeling came over me when tender and innocent thoughts are put into words so precisely and whenever there is a deep yearning for a better world for women. everything was so richly imagined; so vivid were the fields, rivers, and ocean and the characters were so authentically represented, from the sisters to the goddesses. the writing played a huge role in all this, of course, and i found the lyrical prose so emotive and graceful. the sweet innocence of Psyche and her child-like wonder and glee upon glorious freedom within the palace of Eros, her journey to self-discovery and finding agency in her own life, and her fulfilment of identity and her solid certainty by the end of it were captured in its full beauty and marvel. it brought out feelings of wonder in myself, about how much words can have an impact on how i see the world and myself, but most especially— it made me realize how utterly beautiful it is to be able to live in this world and experience life as it is. for instance, it made me appreciate the ocean and the beauty of its primordial being. its sounds and waves and its vast, ancient body brought about so much appreciation for my existence at this point in time, when i can recognize its immeasurable being and my privilege of being myself. now, if you know me, i was very suicidal, so this acknowledgment from me is a pretty big deal. my point is that: this novel has imparted in me a deep and beautiful message that had made my reading experience transcendent (there really is no other word for it)!
bouncing off from that statement, i would like to emphasize that the writing is genuinely so exquisite. this is divine prose. De Robertis has the skill to look into the minds of Psyche and Eros, and the ability to write them so realistically. it requires great effort, not to mention competence and finesse, to execute such a narrative so satisfyingly. the author was able to give so much dimension to Psyche as a woman and as a human person and also offer a different perspective to the myth. the characterization of other deities must have also been fun to imagine, as the writing has shown. so i must give praise to the artistry and sophistication that the author has showcased, as i do not think i have ever read a combination of words as unique and clever before this. i have read many novels with similarly gorgeous prose, but none so like De Robertis', which is distinctive in their efficiency and brevity. i really enjoyed reading the words and knowing how much intention was put into each word choice, with as much nuance as the English language can give anyway. i was enthralled.
moving onwards to the themes of the novel, i thought the discussions were well done. i don't know how else to describe it but the integration of all these themes were incorporated into the narrative seamlessly. i understand the separation of the phallus to the male identity and i really appreciated how Eros was depicted as trans, which came as a delight to me. because how often do we encounter feminist stories that are trans inclusive? i was elated to come across such a story because i would not have given this a chance if it were the typical mundane Greek retelling. there are only some details about Eros' story that did not sit well with me. i do understand that Greek retellings are uncomfortable given its incestuous and male-centered foundations, but i felt that some were not necessary nor vital to the narrative being shaped here. i also understand that Eros needed a greater reason than her mother's rage to be doing all this, so i am still considering my rating; otherwise, the novel is really perfect. i do not think this is anything major to deter you from reading though. i especially liked Psyche's detailed experiences of freedom and it never came across as tedious or repetitive to me. her acknowledgment of her desire and her discovering her identity were endearing to me, as a repressed girlie myself. i enjoyed reading every little realization she has about anything and every little discovery she comes to terms with, even as she paints and weaves and lusts— to experience all this through Psyche moved me. again, the writing is so full of emotion. one cannot help but feel a tenderness towards Psyche, her innocence and fact of being will endear anyone.
finally, have i said that the prose is gorgeous? no? okay, i will say it again: the prose is gorgeous. beautiful. stunning. DIVINE. it was the foundation of the dreamy atmosphere and i cannot seem to stress it enough how insanely well-written this is, in all aspects (except one). please read this when it comes out, you will not regret the time spent on this masterpiece!
Read
July 10, 2024THIS. COVER.
August 22, 2024
This author cannot write a bad sentence, not even a mediocre one. The book is entrancing from the start. I never liked mythology so I had almost zero knowledge about the original tale prior to reading Palace of Eros. Instead, I read it simply as a story told by one of my favorite authors.
Psyche is a stunningly beautiful woman who draws male suitors from far and wide, many calling her even more wondrous than Aphrodite. The goddess is of course insulted and sends her daughter, Eros, to take revenge against the mortal woman. Eros is to shoot her arrow and send Psyche into the arms of the most evil and ugly man that can be found. But as soon as Eros sees Psyche, Eros spirals headlong into love and defies the world to make Psyche hers.
The first half of the book is a golden-tongued love story. I enjoyed the alternate pov’s between the two main characters, watched their no holds barred passion and lust build into a sexual fervor that also held a sweet tenderness. I want to add that Eros here is both a woman and a man. It’s such an important point because Eros fights to be in control of her own body and spirit, at times, violently at odds with the gods because of being both. As the story moves on, a struggle emerges, not only between the two lovers and the gods and goddesses on Olympia, but most importantly, Psyche battles to claim her own life and destiny. To not be beholden to the might of the powerful. To not have to answer to men. I’m sure the story is meant to reflect the strength and vulnerability of women during these times, the fight of individuals to own their identities, and the passages stay true to those themes. But throughout the story, I remained invested in seeing what happened to Psyche and Eros as well. I have no clue if this book stays true to the original myth but once again, this author has written a thoughtful and engaging story.
“I was sunlight, in the presence of her hand. I had not known, before, that this was possible, that a body could be transmuted into light by another person’s touch.”
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Psyche is a stunningly beautiful woman who draws male suitors from far and wide, many calling her even more wondrous than Aphrodite. The goddess is of course insulted and sends her daughter, Eros, to take revenge against the mortal woman. Eros is to shoot her arrow and send Psyche into the arms of the most evil and ugly man that can be found. But as soon as Eros sees Psyche, Eros spirals headlong into love and defies the world to make Psyche hers.
The first half of the book is a golden-tongued love story. I enjoyed the alternate pov’s between the two main characters, watched their no holds barred passion and lust build into a sexual fervor that also held a sweet tenderness. I want to add that Eros here is both a woman and a man. It’s such an important point because Eros fights to be in control of her own body and spirit, at times, violently at odds with the gods because of being both. As the story moves on, a struggle emerges, not only between the two lovers and the gods and goddesses on Olympia, but most importantly, Psyche battles to claim her own life and destiny. To not be beholden to the might of the powerful. To not have to answer to men. I’m sure the story is meant to reflect the strength and vulnerability of women during these times, the fight of individuals to own their identities, and the passages stay true to those themes. But throughout the story, I remained invested in seeing what happened to Psyche and Eros as well. I have no clue if this book stays true to the original myth but once again, this author has written a thoughtful and engaging story.
“I was sunlight, in the presence of her hand. I had not known, before, that this was possible, that a body could be transmuted into light by another person’s touch.”
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2024
The Palace of Eros is by Caro DeRobertis author of some of my favorite novels—Cantoras and The Gods of Tango. This is the first book under their new non-binary name (formerly Carolina DeRobertis). In their words: “I wrote this novel with a heart full of love for the world, and for anyone and everyone who has longed to live outside the box.” I was eager to read it and I just finished it. A gender-fluid version of the story of Eros and Psyche. You don’t have to know the story to enjoy the book.
I have to say I am not especially fond of Greek mythology retelling but I enjoyed this for its focus on the lavish sexual feast of the relationship of Eros and Psyche. In De Robertis’s version Eros is a woman and their relationship must be hidden so it is a classic lesbian story.
As always the writing is beautiful. When Eros enters Psyche’s life is when the book picks up for me in a big way: “And she felt in that instant that she existed to bring pleasure to this girl, to bask in her, to offer her all the pleasures, all the world.”
And here is some great erotic writing:
“That the hand against my hair was honey on a thirsty tongue. The glint and shudder of fish in a stream. Silk rippling through sunlight, I was sunlight in the presence of her hand…”
I was hooked!
Yes I could enjoy this book despite the Greek myth because it is a wonderful and satisfying queer story exploring the possibilities of our world, our future, truly how we can be free.
When wondering about the shaking up of the world and the order of things, Eros says to Aphrodite her mother: “Why can’t the shape of things rise from within instead of being forced on us?”
Good question! It is a fascinating way to ponder these ideas—the context of a set Greek myth. The passion, for me, was the best part of this book. There are some special surprises for women loving women. Moreover the forward thinking, despite the ancient context, is heartening as we deal with book banning, threats of fascist and pushbacks on our basic rights.
We are progress! We are the future! And for a brief shining moment reading this book…
I have to say I am not especially fond of Greek mythology retelling but I enjoyed this for its focus on the lavish sexual feast of the relationship of Eros and Psyche. In De Robertis’s version Eros is a woman and their relationship must be hidden so it is a classic lesbian story.
As always the writing is beautiful. When Eros enters Psyche’s life is when the book picks up for me in a big way: “And she felt in that instant that she existed to bring pleasure to this girl, to bask in her, to offer her all the pleasures, all the world.”
And here is some great erotic writing:
“That the hand against my hair was honey on a thirsty tongue. The glint and shudder of fish in a stream. Silk rippling through sunlight, I was sunlight in the presence of her hand…”
I was hooked!
Yes I could enjoy this book despite the Greek myth because it is a wonderful and satisfying queer story exploring the possibilities of our world, our future, truly how we can be free.
When wondering about the shaking up of the world and the order of things, Eros says to Aphrodite her mother: “Why can’t the shape of things rise from within instead of being forced on us?”
Good question! It is a fascinating way to ponder these ideas—the context of a set Greek myth. The passion, for me, was the best part of this book. There are some special surprises for women loving women. Moreover the forward thinking, despite the ancient context, is heartening as we deal with book banning, threats of fascist and pushbacks on our basic rights.
We are progress! We are the future! And for a brief shining moment reading this book…
August 14, 2024
5/5⭐️ 3.5/5🌶️
Happy Pub Day to Caro De Robertis!
Greek mythology but make it feminist and queer? Yes, please. I had very high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. I absolutely ADORED this book. I could not put it down.
From the start, the Audre Lorde right off the jump! And the dedication "For queer folks, all of us, far and wide and throughout time." Love, love, love.
This book was way more erotic than I was expecting, but in the best way. The sex scenes were beautifully written, displaying raw passion and vulnerability between Eros and Psyche. Though there were moments that the sex nearly overshadowed the actual relationship building between the two.
De Robertis goes beyond purple prose, perhaps more accurately described as deep violet prose, and was perfect in the exploration of this lavender marriage. I enjoyed the rich, floral language used in this novel, but it may not be for every reader. De Robertis' prose showcased the passion and love between Eros and Psyche and the deep sense of grief/loss/betrayal in such a beautiful way that I feel any less would have been a disservice to the authentic voice of the author.
I enjoyed how effortlessly De Robertis blended other Greek mythology into this storyline. It was fun to find the breadcrumbs of some of my other favorite lore through the lense of this plotline. I, also, found that Eros reclaiming the retelling as their own and discrediting the lore of the bards to be a fantastic transition into the plotline.
The exploration of gender fluidity, freedom, gender roles, marriage, and what defines 'monstrous' were some of my favorite themes in this subversive, feminist sapphic depiction of Eros and Psyche's love story. The concept of the transformative nature of love and desire and how even the Goddess of desire is not immune was breathtakingly beautiful. The themes surrounding marriage as an institution and gender norms were pervasive throughout the text, "To stop dreaming of flight" was spirit crushing.
The novel was fairly straightforward in the plot line with little variation from Greek mythology, save for the wlw/nonbinary aspects introduced in the novel. The Gods are still fickle, petty, spiteful, and vengeful. As are Psyche's crusty ass sisters, the gaslighting/manipulation was infuriating to read, which read true to the ancient Greek lore overall.
Expected Publish Date: August 13, 2024
A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviews posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Happy Pub Day to Caro De Robertis!
Greek mythology but make it feminist and queer? Yes, please. I had very high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. I absolutely ADORED this book. I could not put it down.
From the start, the Audre Lorde right off the jump! And the dedication "For queer folks, all of us, far and wide and throughout time." Love, love, love.
This book was way more erotic than I was expecting, but in the best way. The sex scenes were beautifully written, displaying raw passion and vulnerability between Eros and Psyche. Though there were moments that the sex nearly overshadowed the actual relationship building between the two.
De Robertis goes beyond purple prose, perhaps more accurately described as deep violet prose, and was perfect in the exploration of this lavender marriage. I enjoyed the rich, floral language used in this novel, but it may not be for every reader. De Robertis' prose showcased the passion and love between Eros and Psyche and the deep sense of grief/loss/betrayal in such a beautiful way that I feel any less would have been a disservice to the authentic voice of the author.
I enjoyed how effortlessly De Robertis blended other Greek mythology into this storyline. It was fun to find the breadcrumbs of some of my other favorite lore through the lense of this plotline. I, also, found that Eros reclaiming the retelling as their own and discrediting the lore of the bards to be a fantastic transition into the plotline.
The exploration of gender fluidity, freedom, gender roles, marriage, and what defines 'monstrous' were some of my favorite themes in this subversive, feminist sapphic depiction of Eros and Psyche's love story. The concept of the transformative nature of love and desire and how even the Goddess of desire is not immune was breathtakingly beautiful. The themes surrounding marriage as an institution and gender norms were pervasive throughout the text, "To stop dreaming of flight" was spirit crushing.
The novel was fairly straightforward in the plot line with little variation from Greek mythology, save for the wlw/nonbinary aspects introduced in the novel. The Gods are still fickle, petty, spiteful, and vengeful. As are Psyche's crusty ass sisters, the gaslighting/manipulation was infuriating to read, which read true to the ancient Greek lore overall.
Expected Publish Date: August 13, 2024
A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviews posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
April 10, 2024
a sapphic horny retelling of greek mythology?? um YES
August 11, 2024
My adjectives for the prose: purple, dense, florid, bloated. It sounds like I’m describing a corpse. 👀 DNF @ 15% because none of it is connecting with me, not the first-person Psyche nor the third-person Eros, nor the prose that’s turgid to the point of hyperbole. (Did I just want the chance to deploy the word turgid? Maaaaaybe. It’s such a good word.)
August 12, 2024
2024 reads: 229/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
psyche has captured the eyes of every suitor in—and beyond—town. while these men are happy to look at her, none seem to want to marry her. this stresses out her father, who becomes desperate when the townspeople begin blaming their family for failed harvests, so he seeks out the oracle’s advice. the oracle, guided by the jealous aphrodite’s child eros, instructs psyche’s father to hand her over to a monstrous husband. instead of a monster, though, psyche is swept away to an idyllic palace, where her spouse, eros, visits her at night. psyche thinks it’s odd that her prophesied husband is neither man nor monster and that she’s not allowed to see her, but she soon falls in love with eros (who she calls pteron) and her life there. when she becomes filled with doubts, though, she breaks eros’s one rule by looking at her face, which brings about trouble in her home and on olympus…
as soon as i saw this, i knew it’d be at least 4-5 stars for me. i adore greek mythology retellings, and i haven’t seen many of eros and psyche. i was only vaguely familiar with the story of eros and psyche before reading this, but refreshing my memory with quick descriptions, this seems to have captured the essence of the story. i loved the decision to make this a sapphic love story. this representation is definitely lacking when it comes to greek mythology retellings. additionally, eros is nonbinary and i found her discussions of her gender interesting.
overall, this was a beautifully-written retelling, and i’d highly recommend it to greek mythology lovers. i can’t wait for whatever’s next from caro de robertis!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
psyche has captured the eyes of every suitor in—and beyond—town. while these men are happy to look at her, none seem to want to marry her. this stresses out her father, who becomes desperate when the townspeople begin blaming their family for failed harvests, so he seeks out the oracle’s advice. the oracle, guided by the jealous aphrodite’s child eros, instructs psyche’s father to hand her over to a monstrous husband. instead of a monster, though, psyche is swept away to an idyllic palace, where her spouse, eros, visits her at night. psyche thinks it’s odd that her prophesied husband is neither man nor monster and that she’s not allowed to see her, but she soon falls in love with eros (who she calls pteron) and her life there. when she becomes filled with doubts, though, she breaks eros’s one rule by looking at her face, which brings about trouble in her home and on olympus…
as soon as i saw this, i knew it’d be at least 4-5 stars for me. i adore greek mythology retellings, and i haven’t seen many of eros and psyche. i was only vaguely familiar with the story of eros and psyche before reading this, but refreshing my memory with quick descriptions, this seems to have captured the essence of the story. i loved the decision to make this a sapphic love story. this representation is definitely lacking when it comes to greek mythology retellings. additionally, eros is nonbinary and i found her discussions of her gender interesting.
overall, this was a beautifully-written retelling, and i’d highly recommend it to greek mythology lovers. i can’t wait for whatever’s next from caro de robertis!
May 30, 2024
At least 50 pages need to be removed and the fig tree must be burned
August 19, 2024
In a brutal world of men and gods, a young woman resigns herself to death but instead embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the arms of a goddess, unbeknownst to her.
Yet, loving a goddess is not without complications. Eros casts a shrouding spell to hide her relationship with Psyche from the other gods, specifically her mother Aphrodite, and to keep it intact, only visits under the cover of night. She makes Psyche promise never to bring light into their bedchamber or ask for her identity. With no explanation, Psyche wonders who her "husband" really is.
I love this non-binary sapphic version of Eros. I think I am also in love with her. Sigh.
They have lots of sex and a bit of talking and grow to have a deep connection. Psyche, with her newfound inner strength, begins to feel unsettled about a relationship hidden in darkness. Choices are made, conflicts arise, and Psyche and Eros learn more about themselves and each other through the struggle.
This sapphic, feminist retelling of Psyche and Eros is sensual and empowering. What does it mean to be allowed to want? To embrace one's power of self? What does it mean to be free?
Most of the story is in first-person perspective from Psyche's point of view. I didn't find her the most compelling individual, but I did enjoy her stream of consciousness as she puzzled out her unusual circumstances. I did love seeing things from Eros's point of view.
The writing style is a bit wordy. The author is blunt in presenting the brutality and carnal nature of gods and man as they paint a picture of Psyche's and Eros's world. I felt anger, sadness, and joy, so the author did her job. I enjoyed this unique glimpse into Greek mythology with a twist. I would be interested in reading more by this author.
TW: rape, off-page, not a main character
#greekmythology #sapphic #feminist #HEA #olympus #Aphrodite
I received a free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
Yet, loving a goddess is not without complications. Eros casts a shrouding spell to hide her relationship with Psyche from the other gods, specifically her mother Aphrodite, and to keep it intact, only visits under the cover of night. She makes Psyche promise never to bring light into their bedchamber or ask for her identity. With no explanation, Psyche wonders who her "husband" really is.
I love this non-binary sapphic version of Eros. I think I am also in love with her. Sigh.
They have lots of sex and a bit of talking and grow to have a deep connection. Psyche, with her newfound inner strength, begins to feel unsettled about a relationship hidden in darkness. Choices are made, conflicts arise, and Psyche and Eros learn more about themselves and each other through the struggle.
This sapphic, feminist retelling of Psyche and Eros is sensual and empowering. What does it mean to be allowed to want? To embrace one's power of self? What does it mean to be free?
Most of the story is in first-person perspective from Psyche's point of view. I didn't find her the most compelling individual, but I did enjoy her stream of consciousness as she puzzled out her unusual circumstances. I did love seeing things from Eros's point of view.
The writing style is a bit wordy. The author is blunt in presenting the brutality and carnal nature of gods and man as they paint a picture of Psyche's and Eros's world. I felt anger, sadness, and joy, so the author did her job. I enjoyed this unique glimpse into Greek mythology with a twist. I would be interested in reading more by this author.
TW: rape, off-page, not a main character
#greekmythology #sapphic #feminist #HEA #olympus #Aphrodite
I received a free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
July 13, 2024
⁀➷ 3 ★ ´ˎ˗
i have very complicated mixed feelings about this book. i’m always a huge fan of queer retellings, especially when they’re rooted in greek mythology, but i feel as if mythology retellings open a gateway to pretentious stylistic choices. i loved eros being genderfluid and the exploration of feminine sexuality that was captured through this sapphic retelling, but the writing in general made this book extremely difficult for me to finish. while de robertis’ writing is undeniably beautiful, it feels immensely hollow. the flowery purple prose went on and on and felt as if despite using so many words dug up from the deepest troves of the thesaurus, nothing of importance was said. there were several sentences that i read in which i stopped and was like, “what the hell was the point of that sentence being a run-on that was the length of almost a paragraph?”
i so desperately wanted to love this book, i just don’t think it was for me overall. sometimes i think writers should stick to the saying ‘less is more’.
thank you to netgalley, atria books, and caro de robertis for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
"my whole body cried out for her, for those hands i'd felt on me."
i have very complicated mixed feelings about this book. i’m always a huge fan of queer retellings, especially when they’re rooted in greek mythology, but i feel as if mythology retellings open a gateway to pretentious stylistic choices. i loved eros being genderfluid and the exploration of feminine sexuality that was captured through this sapphic retelling, but the writing in general made this book extremely difficult for me to finish. while de robertis’ writing is undeniably beautiful, it feels immensely hollow. the flowery purple prose went on and on and felt as if despite using so many words dug up from the deepest troves of the thesaurus, nothing of importance was said. there were several sentences that i read in which i stopped and was like, “what the hell was the point of that sentence being a run-on that was the length of almost a paragraph?”
i so desperately wanted to love this book, i just don’t think it was for me overall. sometimes i think writers should stick to the saying ‘less is more’.
thank you to netgalley, atria books, and caro de robertis for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free copy for an honest review.
A poetic retelling of a queer/sapphic Eros and Psyche. Eros being gender-fluid fit so well with them and suited who they were. I loved this take on them.
What I struggled with though was the lack of relationship shown through the book. Eros and Psyche's relationship leaps into a nothing but sex bond within a few rushed over days. It leaves it a little difficult to believe the love in this is anything but "desire" and pillow talk. You only get so much of what the other is truly feeling, which is desperately needed since the lack of sight is a foundation for a good quantity of the chapters.
Had there been deeper character developments and longer bonding between the two this would have easily been a four star rating for myself. I just couldn't get past the absence of their relationship.
If you enjoy Greek mythology retellings I would highly recommend.
A poetic retelling of a queer/sapphic Eros and Psyche. Eros being gender-fluid fit so well with them and suited who they were. I loved this take on them.
What I struggled with though was the lack of relationship shown through the book. Eros and Psyche's relationship leaps into a nothing but sex bond within a few rushed over days. It leaves it a little difficult to believe the love in this is anything but "desire" and pillow talk. You only get so much of what the other is truly feeling, which is desperately needed since the lack of sight is a foundation for a good quantity of the chapters.
Had there been deeper character developments and longer bonding between the two this would have easily been a four star rating for myself. I just couldn't get past the absence of their relationship.
If you enjoy Greek mythology retellings I would highly recommend.
July 2, 2024
The Palace of Eros really has ruined me for sapphic Greek mythology retellings forever.
What a breathtaking story of WANTING and LONGING and DESIRE…of how women are not even told they can want and desire…wow. I highlighted so much of this book. I was captivated by the exquisite gender-expansiveness, the yearning, the intensely poetic writing. The queer joy, queer desire, queer pleasure…the queer ancestors’ light and excitement in all those who come after them…freedom and choice away from the control and gaze of men…WOW.
Thank you for the honour of reading this beautiful ARC. It had me in tears every time I sat down to read.
What a breathtaking story of WANTING and LONGING and DESIRE…of how women are not even told they can want and desire…wow. I highlighted so much of this book. I was captivated by the exquisite gender-expansiveness, the yearning, the intensely poetic writing. The queer joy, queer desire, queer pleasure…the queer ancestors’ light and excitement in all those who come after them…freedom and choice away from the control and gaze of men…WOW.
Thank you for the honour of reading this beautiful ARC. It had me in tears every time I sat down to read.
August 16, 2024
Disclaimer that I won an ARC of “The Palace of Eros” in a Goodreads giveaway and also was in a workshop Caro De Robertis taught at USF (they are a lovely person in general as well as an amazing writer!). That did not affect my rating.
“The Palace of Eros” truly is a gorgeous and lyrical Psyche and Eros retelling. The narrative stays very true to the original myth, but the heart of this book is very much about women and nonbinary people finding their power and trusting in it.
Psyche’s story is grounded, especially in the beginning, in a well researched historical world, but the magical elements are intertwined perfectly. It’s a fable that also pushes against the boundaries of traditional fables and the story finds its place in that space perfectly.
Absolutely recommend!
“The Palace of Eros” truly is a gorgeous and lyrical Psyche and Eros retelling. The narrative stays very true to the original myth, but the heart of this book is very much about women and nonbinary people finding their power and trusting in it.
Psyche’s story is grounded, especially in the beginning, in a well researched historical world, but the magical elements are intertwined perfectly. It’s a fable that also pushes against the boundaries of traditional fables and the story finds its place in that space perfectly.
Absolutely recommend!
August 18, 2024
thank you to netgalley for the eARC.
there’s so much to say about this amazing book and so little that i’m able to reveal.
i adored this book. it’s one of my favorite reads of the year. i think it will be a book that i think about often. even when i wasn’t actively reading it, i was thinking about different quotes.
starting it, i was a bit worried since i was on the fence during the first chapter. i thought it would follow that chapter’s tone for several chapters, but i was very wrong. by chapter three, i did not want to put it down. i fell in love with psyche and eros. i just knew it was going to be five stars very early on, like chapter five early on.
this book was written beautifully. the main characters were written beautifully. the relationship between them was written beautifully. i can’t think of a single thing that i didn’t enjoy from this book, other than the tragic stories obviously.
the writing style was very poetic which i loved. i’m a big fan of how poetic such simple things can be written and this book does just that.
i wish i could read this book for the first time again. i can’t gush over this book and their characters enough. i’m definitely planning to read more from this author.
there’s so much to say about this amazing book and so little that i’m able to reveal.
i adored this book. it’s one of my favorite reads of the year. i think it will be a book that i think about often. even when i wasn’t actively reading it, i was thinking about different quotes.
starting it, i was a bit worried since i was on the fence during the first chapter. i thought it would follow that chapter’s tone for several chapters, but i was very wrong. by chapter three, i did not want to put it down. i fell in love with psyche and eros. i just knew it was going to be five stars very early on, like chapter five early on.
this book was written beautifully. the main characters were written beautifully. the relationship between them was written beautifully. i can’t think of a single thing that i didn’t enjoy from this book, other than the tragic stories obviously.
the writing style was very poetic which i loved. i’m a big fan of how poetic such simple things can be written and this book does just that.
i wish i could read this book for the first time again. i can’t gush over this book and their characters enough. i’m definitely planning to read more from this author.
August 27, 2024
Special Thanks to Netgalley & Atria/Primero Sueno Press for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest Review!
When I first heard "Sapphic/Queer Retelling of Psyche & Eros" I jumped glee and immediately ran to request the e-arc. Although, this review is coming a little after the release date but that's totally ok because I'm here to talk about it!
This book is exactly what I needed. It challenged not only the patriarchy but it also challenged the entire gender spectrum.
Eros is a nonbinary and possibly gender fluid goddess, who has no interest in fitting into assigned sex categories. She pushes for those around them to understand that she is more than what she appears as. I love that we got to see Eros as a nonbinary character, there was truly so much dimension to their character. I hold to much love for her character.
Psyche as we know is also a main character and seeing her story written out in this perspective was so incredibly interesting, we see her not only suffer for the actions of men but we see her challenge her own beliefs despite the questions she beholds. She isn't against change and it really shows how wise of a character she is.
Robertis writing is truly beautiful, it's descriptive as it is meaningful. It brings a whole different level of emotion to the novel. It makes you not only question the myths that we're told but makes you question your own self and the society we live in. I know that some readers don't favor poetic and (adjective-filled) writing so please be aware of that before giving this book ago.
The story that is told is simply amazing.
I must emphasize that this story not only is a Queer/ Sapphic retelling of Eros and Psyche and for those that are aware their story revolves are grows from Lust and Sex.
I do have to share that one critique I had about the novel revolves around the point of view both main characters are written in. Psyche is written in first person but Eros is written in third person. When first reading the novel, I had a hard time understanding the author's decision. But I did have a chance to reflect before writing this review and my belief as to the decision of different points of view is because Eros is considered God and therefore is of greater power. I'm not sure if this is the exact reason but it's really interesting to think about.
I truly think this a greek mythology retelling worth checking out if you enjoy them!
P.S. THIS COVER IS STUNNING.
When I first heard "Sapphic/Queer Retelling of Psyche & Eros" I jumped glee and immediately ran to request the e-arc. Although, this review is coming a little after the release date but that's totally ok because I'm here to talk about it!
This book is exactly what I needed. It challenged not only the patriarchy but it also challenged the entire gender spectrum.
Eros is a nonbinary and possibly gender fluid goddess, who has no interest in fitting into assigned sex categories. She pushes for those around them to understand that she is more than what she appears as. I love that we got to see Eros as a nonbinary character, there was truly so much dimension to their character. I hold to much love for her character.
Psyche as we know is also a main character and seeing her story written out in this perspective was so incredibly interesting, we see her not only suffer for the actions of men but we see her challenge her own beliefs despite the questions she beholds. She isn't against change and it really shows how wise of a character she is.
Robertis writing is truly beautiful, it's descriptive as it is meaningful. It brings a whole different level of emotion to the novel. It makes you not only question the myths that we're told but makes you question your own self and the society we live in. I know that some readers don't favor poetic and (adjective-filled) writing so please be aware of that before giving this book ago.
The story that is told is simply amazing.
I must emphasize that this story not only is a Queer/ Sapphic retelling of Eros and Psyche and for those that are aware their story revolves are grows from Lust and Sex.
I do have to share that one critique I had about the novel revolves around the point of view both main characters are written in. Psyche is written in first person but Eros is written in third person. When first reading the novel, I had a hard time understanding the author's decision. But I did have a chance to reflect before writing this review and my belief as to the decision of different points of view is because Eros is considered God and therefore is of greater power. I'm not sure if this is the exact reason but it's really interesting to think about.
I truly think this a greek mythology retelling worth checking out if you enjoy them!
P.S. THIS COVER IS STUNNING.
August 13, 2024
This was such a fascinating take on a classic myth of Eros and Psyche. I really enjoyed how closely it stayed to the original story while still infusing it with more feminist and queer readings of the story. We still have Psyche being considered the most beautiful woman whose beauty outshines even Aphrodite but the attention it brings to Psyche comes with the misery of being treated as possession by men. I loved the descriptions of how male gaze was in a way an act of violence on Psyche and how it was just part of men seeing her as possession. How in the end all that attention made her less likely to find a husband because she was tainted by how men perceived her even in their own eyes.
I really like how the book dealt with the idea of looking as a violation of its own. Psyche was looked at by men who never truly saw her but took parts of her for their own pleasure. Eros was watched by Zeus to fulfil his voyeuristic desires and in that act he took what Eros treasured and twisted it into something to be mocked. And then Psyche's betrayal was the act of looking at Eros without her permission, "a rape of light", exposing Eros deepest wants to the world that couldn't accept her.
In darkness they both found their safety, Psyche by knowing Eros doesn't desire her just because of her famed beauty and Eros because she knew Psyche couldn't know she's a goddess of desire. In darkness they both felt seen for who they really are. But in the end darkness created a kind of prison as well. They couldn't create a life together while constantly hiding. They needed to face the light and the exposure it brought with it.
I also really enjoyed this unique take on being nonbinary. I think in a way I still think about being nonbinary as rejecting womanhood and mainlines in a way and finding something in the middle. But here it didn't feel like Eros at any point rejected her womanhood. She was a woman and at the same time she was more than a woman too.
I think my only issue with this book was that the ending felt a little rushed. I think we could have spent a little more time dealing with the consequences of Psyche's and Eros' betrayal of each other and finding their way to each other again. In some part because I would gladly read another 200 pages of this story.
I really like how the book dealt with the idea of looking as a violation of its own. Psyche was looked at by men who never truly saw her but took parts of her for their own pleasure. Eros was watched by Zeus to fulfil his voyeuristic desires and in that act he took what Eros treasured and twisted it into something to be mocked. And then Psyche's betrayal was the act of looking at Eros without her permission, "a rape of light", exposing Eros deepest wants to the world that couldn't accept her.
In darkness they both found their safety, Psyche by knowing Eros doesn't desire her just because of her famed beauty and Eros because she knew Psyche couldn't know she's a goddess of desire. In darkness they both felt seen for who they really are. But in the end darkness created a kind of prison as well. They couldn't create a life together while constantly hiding. They needed to face the light and the exposure it brought with it.
I also really enjoyed this unique take on being nonbinary. I think in a way I still think about being nonbinary as rejecting womanhood and mainlines in a way and finding something in the middle. But here it didn't feel like Eros at any point rejected her womanhood. She was a woman and at the same time she was more than a woman too.
I think my only issue with this book was that the ending felt a little rushed. I think we could have spent a little more time dealing with the consequences of Psyche's and Eros' betrayal of each other and finding their way to each other again. In some part because I would gladly read another 200 pages of this story.
April 17, 2024
The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis is a triumphant and mystical story--a powerful retelling of the myth of Eros and Psyche from a new, queer perspective. The choice of this myth for this specific type of story is absolutely perfect. The metaphor of romance kept in the dark works excellently for this book. Overall, this novel is stunning and moving, beautifully crafted with incredible contemporary insight. A must read for queer readers and mythology lovers.
The writing in The Palace of Eros is magical, at times toeing the line between prose and poetry, a perfect use of form to shape this transgressive fiction. The style of this book reflects the characters themselves--the fluidity of sexuality and gender, especially with Eros. I enjoy her story and the way her identity is portrayed.
I am in love with the way this novel handles contemporary issues. The analysis of sexism and feminism, gender roles, sexuality, female eroticism and desire, and the power of language in this book is striking and timely, as well as insightful. De Robertis not only retells a myth beautifully, but they assess power structures present in both the ancient and modern world, linking these hierarchies and rules together while also questioning their integrity.
I admire De Robertis's commitment to telling this story well. Their mastery of mythology is apparent through this story. They retell not just the myth of Eros and Psyche, but countless other myths, recreating a mythical pantheon in a single novel. De Robertis does what many other accomplished poets before them have--like Virgil, they've tied ancient mythology to something newer, injecting the mythical into the modern.
I would highly recommend this book to any mythology lovers. This retelling truly stands up to the ancient texts. The Palace of Eros is a love story of epic proportions, centering women, specifically queer women. It is a story for those who do not fit in, who cannot fit into a mold. It is a story for those who must break and reshape the world around them, the power structures, the language, in order to belong. It is perfect for our current social moment.
The writing in The Palace of Eros is magical, at times toeing the line between prose and poetry, a perfect use of form to shape this transgressive fiction. The style of this book reflects the characters themselves--the fluidity of sexuality and gender, especially with Eros. I enjoy her story and the way her identity is portrayed.
I am in love with the way this novel handles contemporary issues. The analysis of sexism and feminism, gender roles, sexuality, female eroticism and desire, and the power of language in this book is striking and timely, as well as insightful. De Robertis not only retells a myth beautifully, but they assess power structures present in both the ancient and modern world, linking these hierarchies and rules together while also questioning their integrity.
I admire De Robertis's commitment to telling this story well. Their mastery of mythology is apparent through this story. They retell not just the myth of Eros and Psyche, but countless other myths, recreating a mythical pantheon in a single novel. De Robertis does what many other accomplished poets before them have--like Virgil, they've tied ancient mythology to something newer, injecting the mythical into the modern.
I would highly recommend this book to any mythology lovers. This retelling truly stands up to the ancient texts. The Palace of Eros is a love story of epic proportions, centering women, specifically queer women. It is a story for those who do not fit in, who cannot fit into a mold. It is a story for those who must break and reshape the world around them, the power structures, the language, in order to belong. It is perfect for our current social moment.
August 23, 2024
Gender fluidity in the context of a Greek god/dess! Personally, I’m not a huge Greek mythology person, so my reviews will never be about how accurate this type of retelling is.
All I know is that the story had me hooked, their romance was so unique, and there was all the typical Greek gore going on around them. Content warning for sexual assault and domestic violence, just not between the two main characters.
Since I know nothing about Greek mythology, I wasn’t sure how this was going to end! I enjoyed the ending and appreciated the many conflicts that came from the two main characters wanting to be together.
This book was perfectly paced. Obviously a completely different story, but I think if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles I think you’d also enjoy this! Would recommend. :) I think the author really captures the misogyny of Greek Gods and refutes that with the characters she’s written. This is definitely written in what I would call a feminist lens — which I loved!
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this book in exchange for an honest review.
All I know is that the story had me hooked, their romance was so unique, and there was all the typical Greek gore going on around them. Content warning for sexual assault and domestic violence, just not between the two main characters.
Since I know nothing about Greek mythology, I wasn’t sure how this was going to end! I enjoyed the ending and appreciated the many conflicts that came from the two main characters wanting to be together.
This book was perfectly paced. Obviously a completely different story, but I think if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles I think you’d also enjoy this! Would recommend. :) I think the author really captures the misogyny of Greek Gods and refutes that with the characters she’s written. This is definitely written in what I would call a feminist lens — which I loved!
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2024
When I heard that Caro De Robertis had written a queer, feminist retelling of a Greek myth, I knew I needed to read it. This is a sapphic retelling with Eros being nonbinary and/or genderfluid, which adds another layer to the story in terms of the pair of them needing to keep their love a secret - literally in the dark.
De Robertis's writing is lush and syrupy-slow: don't open this expecting a fast, plot-driven novel. It meanders and lingers and revels in intimacy. I loved how they played with and subverted gender and gender roles in society - that was a real standout for me. Their relationship did feel very "insta-love", which I recognize is part of the original myth, but I think I needed a little bit more to really sell me on the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will continue to read whatever Caro De Robertis writes (Cantoras remains one of my all time favorite books). I'd recommend this to those looking for queer mythological retellings!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
De Robertis's writing is lush and syrupy-slow: don't open this expecting a fast, plot-driven novel. It meanders and lingers and revels in intimacy. I loved how they played with and subverted gender and gender roles in society - that was a real standout for me. Their relationship did feel very "insta-love", which I recognize is part of the original myth, but I think I needed a little bit more to really sell me on the romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will continue to read whatever Caro De Robertis writes (Cantoras remains one of my all time favorite books). I'd recommend this to those looking for queer mythological retellings!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 13, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros, and it’s quite a book. First and foremost, before even talking about the characters, the lovely romance, and the bonds of sisterhood and daughterhood, I have to talk about the writing, because it’s both the thing that drew me into the story and also the thing that, at times, made the book almost unreadable. The author has a lovely, lyrical, and lush way of writing that — when it works — really works.
This won’t be a book for everyone, and it’s one where I strongly suggest you try a sample — or pick it up from the library — so that you can judge for yourself if the writing style is going to work for you.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros, and it’s quite a book. First and foremost, before even talking about the characters, the lovely romance, and the bonds of sisterhood and daughterhood, I have to talk about the writing, because it’s both the thing that drew me into the story and also the thing that, at times, made the book almost unreadable. The author has a lovely, lyrical, and lush way of writing that — when it works — really works.
This won’t be a book for everyone, and it’s one where I strongly suggest you try a sample — or pick it up from the library — so that you can judge for yourself if the writing style is going to work for you.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
August 19, 2024
I absolutely love Greek Mythology and retelling so I was really curious about this book involving Psyche and Eros. In a world where we fight for freedoms among a society that fears the unknown what will become of the young lovers who must hide their true desires? 🪽
I enjoyed how this book brought to the forefront that there is space for one to be their unique and true self. I got to listen to the audiobook as well and thought the author did a beautiful job narrating the book.
Thank you to the author, Caro De Robertis, Atria Books and GoodReads, for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed how this book brought to the forefront that there is space for one to be their unique and true self. I got to listen to the audiobook as well and thought the author did a beautiful job narrating the book.
Thank you to the author, Caro De Robertis, Atria Books and GoodReads, for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2024
“I would be the guardian of the soul. The truths of souls. Like mine. Like yours. I wanted to reshape the world in hopes there would be a future time, a future place, in which you could exist, you to whom I've been telling this story.”
i’ve been wanting to get more into mythology and this was such a good one to read. releases 8/13/24
i’ve been wanting to get more into mythology and this was such a good one to read. releases 8/13/24
April 7, 2024
This was up there with one of the most beautifully written retellings of Greek mythology I’ve read so far. I have a new found love for Psyche and Eros’ story along with such an appreciation for how this retelling also became an exploration of gender fluidity, queer love, how opinions and expectations change within genders, the rules and boundaries within marriage and the expectations put upon both sides.
The pacing in this book was perfect and I found it hard to put it down - this was an enthralling story that has definitely become a new favourite of mine!
The pacing in this book was perfect and I found it hard to put it down - this was an enthralling story that has definitely become a new favourite of mine!
June 12, 2024
2.5
I love Greek mythology and retellings but sadly this just didn't hit the mark for me. It had so much potential but I just didn't connect with the characters so I just didn't particularly care? I did finish it though as I wanted to know what happened and I did really enjoy some aspects so it wasn't a DNF or 1 star.
Thank you Borough Press and Netgalley for the arc.
I love Greek mythology and retellings but sadly this just didn't hit the mark for me. It had so much potential but I just didn't connect with the characters so I just didn't particularly care? I did finish it though as I wanted to know what happened and I did really enjoy some aspects so it wasn't a DNF or 1 star.
Thank you Borough Press and Netgalley for the arc.
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March 9, 2024This is a book about desire as a force for growth. For a book that is quite literally about Eros and a human Psyche (pun intended), it really gets into the weeds of longing and art and purpose as shaped by both our deepest desires and emotional backgrounds. It’s not a Serious Book, but it is a poignant one that serves as a different sort of cautionary tale than most of the Greek myths (or their inflected European descendants). And many of the lines are pure poetry.
The first two chapters a bit of a slog in terms of style, but they establish the context well and the writing really picks up as the book goes on, both in pacing and quality!
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I received a free ARC for this book and am leaving this review voluntarily
The first two chapters a bit of a slog in terms of style, but they establish the context well and the writing really picks up as the book goes on, both in pacing and quality!
( )
I received a free ARC for this book and am leaving this review voluntarily
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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