Review by Booklist Review
Debut author McNamara revitalizes the classic myth with versatile prose and skillful world building, enmeshing her main characters' lives with those of other Greek tales and in turn giving readers access to a broad swath of rich mythology. At her birth, it is prophesied that Psyche, a princess of Mycenae, will become a hero. While it is an uncommon fate for a woman, Psyche's parents trust the oracle and give her the training a hero deserves, allowing Psyche to explore a world full of monsters, magic, and divine meddling. When Psyche's actions call a god's curse down upon her, Eros, a primordial being and immortal Titan disinterested in the politics of the gods and the petty squabbles of humanity, is the one who is tasked to deliver it, setting in motion their well-known tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. What sets this retelling apart and will no doubt endear it to readers is McNamara's unparalleled imagination, which folds a great many established myths into one cohesive narrative. The result is a multifaceted story full of rich nuance that will definitely require several rereads to fully capture.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
McNamara's attractively told debut reimagines the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche as a romance between two unpleasant people. Difficult bits of Apuleius's original telling in The Golden Ass have been smoothed to a simpler reflection of modern mores. Psyche is not a younger sister but an only child, raised like a boy to be a hero. Stripped of sibling rivalries, feminine constraints, and a belief in her powerlessness before the gods, this Psyche, though not without her charm, is unimaginative, single-minded, domineering, and arrogantly youthful. She doesn't need to learn about agency and capability--she needs to get past self-absorption. Meanwhile, immortal Eros is bored and yearns for impossible death. He's explicit that his arrows of desire only work "if I infused them with my will," yet an accidental scratch is enough to infect him with cursed lovesickness for Psyche. It also turns him into one of the tropiest romantic types: the guy who's too afraid to communicate. This pairing results in an eminently readable love story that fails to be memorable because it refuses to engage with the tough stuff. Agents: Maria Whelan and Catherine Drayton, InkWell Management. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT The myth of Psyche and Eros is a classic love story for the ages that McNamara adapts into an unputdownable book. Psyche and Eros's perspectives provide glimpses into Greek mythology and history, such as the Trojan War and the tale of Adonis. There are also several other Easter eggs that fans of Greek mythology will enjoy. This novel provides poignant commentary about how women have been treated and depicted throughout myths and legends of the past. They were often an expendable means to an end for the hero or the trophy they won at the end of their journey. Psyche refuses to be either and takes her journey into her own hands. Readers who have enjoyed Madeline Miller's and Jennifer Saint's retelling of Greek myths will enjoy this novel. The text is beautiful and poetic, immersing the reader into the world of ancient Greece, while still reading like a modern novel. VERDICT A must-read for fans of Greek mythology adaptations, this book is enjoyable, poignant, and beautifully written.--Carleigh Obrochta
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The myth of Eros and Psyche comes to life in McNamara's debut. The princess Psyche was literally born to greatness. Before her birth, her father, King Alkaios of Mycenae, heard from the Oracle of Delphi that his child would grow up to "conquer a monster feared by the gods themselves." When Psyche arrives, surprising everyone by being born a girl, Alkaios decides to train her to be a strong hero just as he would have if she'd been born a boy. As Psyche grows up and is taught by the legendary female hero Atalanta, she grows eager for the chance to fulfill that prophecy. One day, she's summoned to the top of a mountain to finally meet the monster that will make her a hero. Ready for battle, she waits on the mountain only to be swept away by a gust of wind, landing at the magical home of a mysterious god who claims to be her husband. Psyche is frightened and confused, not least of all because her divine husband cannot show her his face, lest she be burned alive from a terrible curse. Psyche is correct that this curse of burning isn't actually real, but little does she know that her husband told her this lie to protect her from the true curse: that the moment the two lovers set eyes on each other, they will be torn apart forever. McNamara's creative take on Eros and Psyche is a thoughtful reflection on the meaning of love in all its forms. Her narrative foundation is set on real versions of the myth, and any changes she makes or gaps she fills in (for example, including characters like Atalanta as Psyche's mentor) place her tale within the wider context of women's lives and place in society during the Trojan War. Trained to be a fighter and destined to be a lover, Psyche also learns to consider whether violence is truly heroic or if there are other ways to be brave. An effective, heartfelt novelization of a famous Greek myth. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
