Psyche and Eros: A Novel

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Whilst I particularly hated the changes to Psyche's character, I also didn't think the other changes made sense. Why make Penelope the sister of Helen and not Clytemnestra? Why make Aphrodite's motives for punishing Psyche not a matter of divine prerogatives accidentally infringed on but jealousy over Eros being freed from his slavery to her? Why change the three tasks of Psyche to your taste and involve Eros in them when they're Psyche's to solve? And the biggest question of them all: why on Hades make the gods deny Psyche her boon of becoming a goddess and make her become a goddess illegally through an unauthorised potion by Hekate et al.? That wouldn't be possible, Zeus could kill Psyche for becoming an immortal without his authorisation. And in any case, it was him who made her an immortal on Eros' pleading in the first place, so what's so bad about this that it needed changing? Nobody can become a god without Zeus allowing it, so this outcome is nonsensical to the Nth degree. And it also warps the only happy ending in a Greek myth-based story that was actually earned. I could write an essay on what I didn't enjoy about this book, but it all boils down to feeling like McNamara had no confidence that the Eros and Psyche story could stand alone. Psyche spends so much of her storyline bouncing between cameos of famous Greeks and being the most Special Woman To Exist (she's the granddaughter of Perseus! She's the only student of Atalanta! She's besties with Iphigenia! She shows Achilles that girls can run! She's as skilled as Artemis, as cunning as Athena, as beautiful as Aphrodite! She's briefly engaged to Nestor! She's beloved by all who meet her, including most of the gods and also Medusa!) that when she finally meets Eros, there's barely any time for them to bond in any meaningful way. And even that time is spent faffing about with Eros not telling her the nature of his curse or his identity and her just... not asking. You want something like Madeleine Miller's character studies revealing everything the text touches? Don't go into this expecting that. overall, i enjoyed this particular greek myth reimagining and has me on the lookout to see what LM writes next! Also the potion from Hecate that “illegally” turns Psyche immortal? DUMBEST THING I HAVE EVER READ AND IMPOSSIBLE, if you’ve actually studied Greek myth you KNOW Zeus must approve of someone becoming immortal and you must receive ambrosia/nectar, you cannot bypass him!! There’s no such thing as a magic potion. But oh yeah let’s just do it for the sake of *plot*. Ugh.

Psyche is never seen as a warrior or “physically tough” woman in the myth… I’m not entirely sure what is up with English authors taking feminine ancient Greek historical or mythological figures and making them “badass” and “warrior-like” and physically tough… It’s as if there is some type of shame surrounding the notion of a virtuous but feminine and kind woman. What is “feminist” about distorting a woman’s entire persona just because you don’t like the fact she’s feminine??? She was never a tomboy and NEVER a warrior, so this made me so annoyed from the get-go.This is a riotous adventure through the ages of Greek mythology, populated by a cast of vivid, glittering characters. Luna McNamara strikes the perfect note of irreverent humor and furious emotion in this fabulous novel. An absolute joy!" — Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra

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. This is not how you should handle a retelling. You can't just manipulate everything to make it do what you wish. WRITE YOUR OWN CHARACTERS IF YOU WANT THEM TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. Make a story that's "inspired by Eros and Psyche" then this is perfectly well as a novel. But not as a retelling. A joyous and subversive tale of gods, monsters, and the human heart and soul, Psyche and Eros dazzles the senses while exploring notions of trust, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be a hero. With unforgettably vivid characters, spellbinding prose, and delicious tension, Luna McNamara has crafted a shimmering and propulsive debut novel about a love so strong it defies the will of Olympus. Even Eros (a god himself) shows contempt for the selfish (sometimes harmful) games Zeus’ pantheon of Gods partake in (including his disgust and guilt at some of his own questionable decisions.)

Lisa Fernandes

Why make Aphrodite into a vicious evil person who is tormented by jealousy alone but make Psyche’s sisters good people? Oh yeah, because sisterly bonds are important and we need them for a feminist retelling. Silly me. But let’s keep the goddess of love, sex, and beauty as a vicious terrible divine figure since she needs to be one for the sake of plot, and since she’s feminine am I right? 🙃 When I walked through the Lion’s Gate in my armour, a victor at the height of my triumph, I could hear people comparing me to manifold goddesses: Artemis for my skill, Athena for my cunning, Aphrodite for my beauty. Of all these, it was only Aphrodite who took issue with the comparison. She never could tolerate competition.” We’ve been treated to many gripping mythological novels with a feminist slant over the past few years – from Madeline Miller’s Circe and Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne to Claire Heywood’s Daughters of Sparta and Natalie Haynes’ Stone Blind. Psyche and Eros is an amalgamation of all these different tales, weaving the lives, loves and losses of legendary characters into one story. Psyche’s quest to be reunited with Eros takes her on an epic journey across dangerous terrain and into the domains of gods, where she encounters the likes of Zephyrus, Prometheus, Aphrodite, Medusa, Persephone, Demeter and Hekate, amongst others. But whilst it’s these gods and goddesses who are the cause of all the havoc that transpires across the novel, the heart of the story is something that feels inherently human: love. A beautiful retelling, breathing new life into a beloved myth. Luna McNamara weaves an enthralling tale of adventure, romance, and star-crossed lovers, in an enchanting world of ancient gods and legends.” — Sue Lynn Tan, bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess Fiercely feminist and deeply romantic, Psyche and Eros has the allure...and the epic quality of ancient myth, tinged with...modern wit' Ava Reid