Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

 Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara was published on 25th May 2023 by Orion. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to random Book TOurs for inviting me to take part on the tour

Synopsis

Born into an era of heroes, a prophecy claims that Psyche - Princess of Mycenae - will defeat a monster feared even by the gods themselves. Rebelling against society's traditions, she spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to fulfil her destiny.

But she is soon caught up in powers beyond her control, when the jealous Aphrodite sends the God of Desire, Eros, to deliver a fatal love-curse. The last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world, but when he is pricked by the very arrow intended for Psyche, he is doomed to love 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 the whole of the heavens try to keep them apart, will they find their way back to each other... before it's too late?

My Review

This is an incredible read of one of the greatest love stories of all time; a love that will endure all. Yes, if I am honest it took a while to get into, but once I was drawn in I couldn't put it down.

For a variety of reasons this year I have read a few stories centred on Greek Mythology and the behaviour of The Gods, both to each other and to the human life forms they create never ceases to amaze, and horrify me. Psyche and Eros is no exception to this with all the twists and turns along with a rich variety of dramatic moments and passages of suspense as you navigate the path of love with them.

The way the story centres around strong women who persevere against all the odds in a male, and God, dominated world for what they want and believe in is wonderfully written.

Psyche and Eros battle to overcome the curse of Aphrodite which will enable them to be free to love each other. This is a wonderful rewriting of the story and there are many funny moments, plus ones which will take you completely by surprise and possibly change how you will relate to some of the Gods and mortals you may have met before.

For me it was enlightening to realise that Eros didn't have such an easy time of things as you would expect considering his "job". however, the ingenious ways he creates to ensure he is with Psyche, despite all the odds makes for incredibly compelling reading and once I was hooked I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

For a debut novel this is an excellent read and it hits the spot on so many levels.

Hopefully we won't be waiting for too long before there is another novel from Luno.

About the Author

Luna McNamara holds a master's degree from Harvard University in the study of women and gender in world religions.

A lifelong lover of Greek myths, she has studied ancient Greek language and philosophy.

She is currently a social worker living in Boston.

Psyche and Eros is her debut novel