TW// mentions of divorce, brief mentions of the covid pandemic, bombing, murder, brief mentions of cheating, brief mention of misogyny, brief mentions of war, brief mentions of abuse, mentions of fatal car crash, enbyphobia, mentions of PTSD, brief mention of suicidal ideation

This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. I had two major issues with this book.

First of all, Eris and Grace had only lust and no true chemistry. Eris is the muse of love, so her relationship with Grace should’ve had more chemistry and true love to prove that Eris was the muse of love. Instead we mainly get the story telling us that Eris is the muse of love while Eris' personal life is lacking true romantic love. What makes it worse, too, is that all the spicy scenes were rushed. If you’re going to include spicy scenes as an important part of the main characters’ relationship, those scenes should be fleshed out and well written. I’m not a huge fan of smut, but if you are a fan of it, don’t go into this book just for the smut as it will be really disappointing.

My other big issue with this book is the whole legal case for why Eris is being sued. Grace perfectly summarizes early on in the book why the people attempting to sue Eris wouldn’t win their case. While it’s true that sometimes things get brought to court where it’s clear that one side will win over the other, in this case, the readers are supposed to believe that one of the best lawyers in all of L.A. chose to work for the people who are suing Eris. Since it’s proven early on that the people have no case against Eris, it felt unrealistic that this amazing lawyer took on the case and it made it seem like him taking on the case was only used to further the plot. To add onto that, since you can see that there isn’t really a case against Eris, it’s hard to feel any worry for Eris because you know that she won’t actually be sued. The legal case in the story is the main conflict so it should’ve been heavily revised in order to make this story at least semi-decent.

There was also an issue with how the author seemed to want to name drop as many Greek gods as possible. There were passages where eight or more of them were name dropped at once, which left me feeling like I just got whiplash as I had to try to keep track of them (even though most of the ones who were name dropped didn’t play a huge part in the story).

The major breakup scene in this book wasn’t handled well. Eris said some pretty extreme stuff, but she never talked it through with Grace and I wasn’t given enough inner dialogue about the topic to understand why Eris decided to get back together with Grace. Eris and Grace just all of a sudden start making love to each other and then everything is magically okay for the two of them.

I also didn’t like the comments this book made about the Christian God, but that’s just my personal preference.

The rest of the story was just straight up bland. Almost all of the characters lacked depth and weren’t interesting at all. The writing style was nothing special as well. There was a lot left to be desired with this book.

The were only two things I truly liked about this book. One was Chris because they were a little bundle of joy in this mess of a book. However, I was a bit disappointed that the author chose put Chris in a relationship with someone who was enbyphobic. The other thing I liked about the book was how Grace’s weight was described. It was very body positive and I have a similair body type as Grace, so I felt seen by that representation.

Ultimately this book just wasn’t for me and I’m glad to be done with it. It’s my first disappointing read of 2023, so hopefully things will only go up from here.

There's something quite unique about how these books are written. Aside from immortals living amongst mortals after the Merge... each book in the series adds another ingredient to make the characters evolve so elegantly that you don't realize you've stumbled across their arcs. Death and destruction be it mental or physical seem tantamount as the author brings to fruition the plot twist, but the journey after the hammer drops is as remarkable as the one paved before.

The universality of love and tackling it's lost need and meaning is really calling any author to task, yet-- I enjoyed the soliloquies, some a wee pushed for heart string pulls, bower we, the message of letting love flow, holding space for those you love, listening and loving without ego, and finding one another's heartbeats in the silence- makes those tingly feels flutter all over. Can be read as a stand-alone but you'll be missing out on some fabulous previous journeys.

"Without love, human life is fragile.”

But what might happen if love was removed from the picture? In this tome,author Brey Willows addresses just that point. Some of the foundational ideas suggested by "the Merge" when the divine gods and goddesses chose to be with humans is probably better addressed in the earlier books in the series but you don't need to have read them to get the ideas presented.

Eris Ardalides is the muse of love and creativity. However, she's "retired" because she's actually given up on love.

Grace Collins is on the "partner track" at her law firm. She isn't looking for love because it's safer that way. But when she meets Erdis DJing at her club, the attraction is spontaneous and strong.

When patrons of the Club sue Eris and the other gods it becomes a "blame game" that changes the whole world. Can Grace keep the professional boundaries intact?

I am a big fan of Greek Mythology and also of the LGBTQIA2S trope. Brey Willows has brought the two together and entertained me no end. As I scramble to find other books in this series I again thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Highly Recommended 5/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley. However, I chose to read and review it and my opinions are not influenced by how I received this]

Another enjoyable book in the Memory’s Muses series. In this third instalment, the main character is Eris, the muse of love, who finds herself in the predicament of not believing in love anymore. It’s all the humans’ fault for being predictably disappointing and seriously, who can blame her? Quite a few people, it turns out. Things get messy when a disgruntled group decides to sue Eris, deeming her responsible for their failed love lives. Chaos ensues, in the midst of which Eris finds love and purpose again.

I never pictured the muse of love as a Harley-Davidson-riding butch, so that was interesting. All in all, Lines of Love was an easy and quick read, despite touching on complex topics.

Lines of Love is the third installment in the "A Memory's Muses" Series and, so far it was my first adventure into Brey Willow's novels. I had had my eye on Song of Serenity, but lost sight of it in my "to-be-read" tab, so I jumped at the opportunity to read Lines of Love when it presented itself. Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this copy!

Eris and Grace are interesting characters in their own way and have distinct voices and patterns that make them distinguishable from each other. They are definitely one spicy couple, but I have to say their interactions with their friends truly show most of their individuality. More, please! In general, there are many aspects of the story that I would have loved to see more of, but I'll give you two examples:

-> Themis, Hades, and the judge were amazing. Yes, yes, not the main characters, but I really did enjoy them the most. They each had a different take on the "no-nonsense"-vibe while happily going along with the absolute insanity that was happening throughout. They are charming and funny, and I need more of Themis in a courtroom.

--> Love is such a diverse and ambiguous topic, and the discussions of it were quite interesting. As the driving plot was the trial, I would have loved to have seen more of the opposition's opinions and expectations toward Eris, but in an active discussion and have the opposition less removed from the main characters. And on that note, I would have relished seeing more of the trial aspect, as they seemed so important to Grace's intentions.

In general, I really enjoyed Lines of Love, but I am left wanting more. I understand, that in romance the pacing is generally faster, especially when making room for spice, but it's a special thing when a story leaves you wanting more. Fleshing out the plot just a tad more would be my main feedback, but the whole concept of the story is a 10/10!

What a lovely twist on Greek myth. The muses never get a lot of credit and getting to read a book not only about my favorite mythological characters but also a book about the nature of love????? ugh I adored this and cannot wait to sing its praises!

This is the third book in this series, and I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed the interactions between the main characters as well as the secondary characters. It's a very quick and easy read. I recommend


Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

I picked up this one without high expectations. I read the first one in the series, and I wasn’t impressed, but I liked it just enough to give the series a chance. It’s an extremely rare thing to me, but I had a feeling while reading the book, like someone was telling the story to me personally. The author has both talent and skill, thank goodness.

The story is a treat. The writing is a treat. A wonderful entertaining read. Could be thought provoking, depending on the mood you’re in. I absolutely recommend you give it a go. There’s enough humor and a whole lot of pondering about love. Although Brey Willows managed to not make it feel like preaching, it still got a little too much for me towards the end. The book has butch/femme dynamics, and I know some people are irked by it, so if you’re one of them, and you haven’t had the chance to receive professional help, you may want to stay away from Lines of Love.

The idea of all the gods living among humans is in itself the land of not just endless possibilities but an ever-expanding infinity of possibilities.

So, the muse of love is being sued, even though she claims she’s been retired for a century or so. People are taking sides. Gods have a weird way of handling things. Everything goes sideways, and the whole world is falling apart. What’s not to love about the story?
The two main characters, Eris and Grace, are quite well thought out and well written. They’re not perfect, but they aren’t damaged to the point of not being believable, or to make the reader root against them. I’d say they’re both likable. Grace is a strong woman that doesn’t need to be looked after and saved by the butch, so to speak. And Eris is a strong butch that is capable of showing emotions and not afraid to even cry. I’m not one for crying butches, but I guess I have different standards if the butch is the muse of love. I especially enjoyed how the author managed to write a strong old school butch that is in touch with her emotions, and not make it excessively feminine.

All the supporting characters actually helped to understand the two mains better or move the story and weren’t just there to fill in the pages. I didn’t see the need for the homeless artist character, and how it helped Eris’s development. It could have been any of the already introduced characters, and I’d much prefer if it was Chris’s story that had more of the page time. Eris’ friends, both human and immortal, brought a lot of fun to the story.

The book has nice pacing, for the most part, but the first sex scene was unexpected. And I mean putting on the news channel at 2PM to find porn there kind of unexpected. The courtroom scene was a bit of a blur. And as a reader I’d like more detail, but on the other hand, if put in the situation it would be a blur, so it being not very detailed makes it even more immersive somehow. I have a feeling I’ll definitely want to read this again some time in the future, which is obviously a good sign.

Overall, I say 4.7 stars but rounding it to 4 because defying math rules is my thing.

A very emotional and moving story

Eris is taking a break from being the Muse of Love with little to no plans to return because love these days just isn’t what it used to be. Grace finds herself pulled into a legal case where she is defending Eris against numerous lawsuits from people who think their affairs in love that haven’t gone so well are Eris’ fault.

What a fantastic addition to the Memory’s Muses series! This was just what I needed and hadn’t realised it. Brey covers a lot in this story, all of which can be deciphered from Eris and Grace’s stories. They both have very different views on love but can find a few things they agree on. There was a lot of emotion packed into both of their experiences and this shared one they were having together.

In fact, as imaginative and wonderful as the story was, it was also deeply philosophical. Love is not an easy topic, yet for the Muse of Love there is much to cover and every angle was explored. There were moments that were amazing, cementing how we need love in the world to have kindness, caring, well-meaning people, who are selfless, empathetic, sympathetic, and everything we know that drives the good in the world.

The best thing was how Brey explored taking love away. It was devastating to the entire world but I loved this because it really made you think. What is love? Where does it come from? And is it something we can only have if exists on a higher level. That was so deep and I adored every moment of realisation that this story made me have about love. At the same time, the characters were doing the same, having to really assess whether Eris’ no longer being the Muse of Love was going to have that bigger consequence or was it unfair for all that responsibility for something we most certainly need in the world to be on being alone.

A great story that I can’t wait to read again and again. The appearance of some old friends and references to other moments and characters that appear in this series and Brey’s other books just made it all the more special. I really can’t recommend this enough, it is a must read!

This is a story about Eris Ardalides, who is the Muse of love. Her job is to help people find meaningful relationships. After 3000 years on the job she has retired because she’s lost faith in humans ability to stay in a relationship. She owns a gay nightclub and has a lot of one night stands because she has also lost faith in love.

Grace Gordon is a divorce lawyer. She is very career driven and is trying to make partner in her firm.
Her para legal, Doug, talks her into a night out away from her job. And they end up at Eris’s club. Grace and Eris have instant attraction and a one night stand.

Since Eris retired, humans are having difficulty connecting with others romantically and a lawsuit is filed against Eris for dereliction of duty. Eris hires Grace to be her attorney.

By retiring Eris has made the gods very angry and Aphrodite becomes violent and starts a war with Hades.

I liked this fanciful story and it became very philosophical on the meaning of true love.

Eris has a group of butch friends and a personal assistant who made the story better with their loyalty to her and their fun banter.

This was book three in the Memory Muses series and they can be read out of order.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this copy in exchange for a review.

I love stories with original concepts and this certainly fit the bill.
I loved the world building in this and how the Gods, now part of our world after an event called The Merge, now interact so much more closely with everyone. I loved the lore of the Pre-Faders and kinda wish we got more information about the battles hinted at, but that’s more me being a nerd for lore. The story itself was amazing. Eris is the Muse of Love (but not a goddess, an important distinction made throughout) and is being sued for ‘dereliction of duty’. She’s helped by divorce lawyer Grace Gordon, and their chemistry is immediate though Grace tries to keep this professional so she can try and win this precedent setting case.
While this focuses mostly on the Greek Pantheon with everyone from Hades to Prometheus making an appearance, other Gods and Goddesses of different Pantheons make an appearance, again making me really want to see more of this world where all the Pantheons now interact. Besides this there’s a huge cast of supporting characters, from Eris’s Brothers in Boots to Grace’s biggest supporters of her own brother and her paralegal/best friend. Not to mention various minor deities, Eris’s sister Muses and more that are entertaining and help populate the pages and keep things moving.
What and who controls love are the biggest questions in this book and I think they’re answered, at least as well as such a concept can be. It touches a lot on if there isn’t a spark there already no amount of gifts or pretty words is going to make things work. But if there is that spark then even the most closed off of hearts can start to melt.

Yet another great instalment in this series of books about the muses. Romance and a history/theology tour is a total winner for me. I enjoy learning about gods and goddess that I haven’t heard of, and being a nerd looking them up and reading about them. More interaction between Eris and Grace would have made the story better as there wasn’t exactly much wooing nor anything really beyond an acknowledged attraction and then they were together. A lot of attention was spent on the value of love and why we need more of it in the world. But given the current state of politics and the environment it’s totally understandable, indeed pretty heartwarming to read.

Brey Willows is one of my favorite authors. She is an expert with speculative and fantasy stories, so it is only natural that I try and grab her books as soon as I can. Lines of Love, the third book in the “Memory’s Muses Novels” is a great addition to the series.

This is the tale of Eris Ardalides, the Muse of Love. She no longer believes there is love in this modern world, so she has retired from her duties as a muse and works as a DJ in a nightclub she owns. When she finds herself being sued by a group of lovelorn folks who believe they would have found true love if she had only helped them, Eris turns to divorce lawyer Grace Gordon for help. Grace has had very little love in her life, but she still believes there is someone out there for her. But, they have to meet her standards, which are high. Grace offers to help Eris with the lawsuit, and attraction builds between them as they work together. The question is will they cross those lines they’ve built around their hearts?

This is a splendid story of two people who have either ceased to believe in love, or set the bar so high they might never recognize it. Grace and Eris are two characters that you will definitely connect with. Their journey to finding love and romance will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is actually a good deal of action and adventure in this narrative, which the author handled well. The overall theme of this novel though is love, what it truly is, how we need it in our lives and how our lives could be without it. I enjoyed how Willows showed this with her words as well as the actions of the characters.

This truly is an amazing fantasy/romance novel. It’s a great addition to the series, and I’m thankful I had the chance to read it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

This book follows the line of others by the author, the Afterlife Inc. series and Memory's Muses. There are already several books in which the theme revolves around the gods and demigods that have existed in all cultures since ancient times, with the particularity that all these mythological characters live mixed with humans, with all the problems that this causes. . Even more so when the human and the divine become intimately related.

On this occasion, an immortal being, a Muse, the muse of the expression of love and the erotic, Eris, who is in an existential crisis, is going to have to face a lawsuit for breach of her obligations. Humans dissatisfied with their love lives are taking it out on Erin. This conflict is going to create a bigger one. Are the Gods going to allow this affront?

But as Gods as they are, they are by no means experts in the intricacies of earthly legality, so a human lawyer, Grace, is going to take charge of Erin's defense. Even after they have had a first physical encounter that has been especially gratifying for both Erin and Grace.

Within the fantastic plot, philosophical issues have been mixed, as is also usual in these series. I don't remember that in the previous books the existential and moral discourse has been so dense, but in this one I have noticed it more complex, sometimes too much.

Anyway, it has been a story interesting enough, with rhythm and a lot of action.

‘Lines of Love’ by Brey Willows is the story of Eris Ardalides, the Muse of Love. A Muse who has lost any interest in love. As she sees it, love doesn’t mean anything anymore. Why bother? Grace Gordon, a divorce lawyer, is privy to the worst of relationships, and has no desire to become entangled in one herself. Like Eris, sex is fine, just don’t expect her to settle for anything less than perfection.

When Eris is sued for failing in her perceived duty to those seeking love, Grace takes on the case. Attraction is certainly a factor between them, but since they’ve both sworn off love, how can it ever work out? As they fight to save Eris’s reputation and what it might mean for the rest of the gods and immortals, will they give in to their passion?

I love the world Brey Willows has created. She writes about the interaction between gods and mortals in a fascinating and engaging way. Although I’ve read the whole series, and the previous books about Afterlife Inc, there is no need to have done so to enjoy this book. It works just as well as a stand-alone. But you’d be missing out if you didn’t check out the entire body of work.

This isn’t just romance, there’s peril and danger this time. And boy, does she know how to up the ante! It was great to have some of my favourite characters show up and play a part in this novel too. My favourite Afterlife Inc character, Dani, is always a welcome addition to any story.

It’s emotional and passionate and utterly beautiful. Love conquers all. Brey Willows excels again.

I was given this ARC for review.

What happens when the Muse of Love retires, or worse, when she gets sued by the humans she's supposed to inspire for dereliction of duty?!

A class action lawsuit sees Eris Ardalides the Muse of Love in need of a lawyer, the human kind, and one who isn't afraid to sit down at the table with the gods and immortals.
Disillusioned with the concept of love but more than happy to pursue sexual conquests, it just so happens Eris might have unknowingly met (or more specifically fucked) just such a lawyer at her bar- the Infinite Club.

As ice breakers go, hot, sweaty sex with a handsome butch is a sure fire way to jump start any relationship. But, Grace Gordon is on track to make partner at law firm Kline and Associates, so whilst she's willing to stick her neck on the line to speed up her professional advancement by taking on Eris' case, doing so for anything else, including love just isn't part of the plan. Not to mention that having seen how disastrous love can be via her parents own failed relationship, Grace has a dutiful box ticking list of criteria for potential love matches to meet.

None of which should be an issue for Eris, who seems to have given up not only on love but being the muse of it too. Jaded from centuries of observing and experiencing superficial love, Eris is blindsided by the humans attempt to sue her, to blame her, of all the immortals and gods for their inability to express their own thoughts and emotions, when more importantly they've forgotten how to truly feel love.

But humans are about to find out in spectacular fashion just exactly what a world devoid of love and all its sibling components looks like. Clearly pissing off the gods has far reaching consequences.

Brey Willows' work simply never fails to astound me; every book inches the proverbial bar ever higher, with this perhaps being my favourite of the Muses series thus far. Lines of Love is the perfect mix of romance and fantasy, and a prime example of Willows' ability to mix profound and often intense topics with her trademark (and deftly situated) quips.

A selection box of delights, this review could stretch for days - there's so much to savor in Lines of Love. In a book all about the Muse of Love, it was heartening to find a non-binary character nestled amongst the pages, as if they'd always belonged there (and they do), their side journey a true testament to the mantra love is love.

With a cast of both new and old characters (including Vision of Virtue's reindeer riding, human loving Prometheus, as well as the formidable Afterlife Inc. Fury sisters), there's plenty going on to lose yourself in.

The pinnacle however resides in the last third of the story, a section which will have your eyes firmly glued to the pages. Whilst a deadly surprise ups the ante for humans, immortals, and gods alike, the true wonder is in Eris' beautifully hopeful and inspiring proclamation about love; a message she was literally born to in part upon the world - and what a priceless message for Willows to gift her readers with. A wonderful reminder of everything love has to offer and everything it shouldn't be.

Since the Merge, humans and immortals co-exist but when the muse of love is being sued for messing up in her duties, the balance between the two worlds could be cast into jeopardy.

Retired Muse of Love Eris knows ways to inspire and create love but doesn’t know what really work anymore. When she is being sued by humans, her one night stand with hot lawyer Grace puts them together on a journey to clear Eris’ name and changes what they know about love.

I read this as a stand-alone and like that some of the mythical characters and beings could be seen in different lights. I thought the supporting characters injected fun and humour to the book. Mostly, it’s really sweet that Eris and Grace who had largely differing views and perceptions on love found it in the other.

I just reviewed Lines Of Love by Brey Willows. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, and author, Brey Willows for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

In this modern take on greek mythology, the muse of love, Eris Ardelides, is retired from her powers and is now a popular DJ and nightclub owner. I loved her gang of masc-wlw who drink, ride bikes and just want to party. Eris was an interesting twist on greek mythology. I think the author struggled with establishing a complex world and characters - so some passages feel too dense and drawn out. Her romantic counterpart is Grace Gordon who is a hot divorce lawyer. Overall, the wlw scenes were hella spicy and I really liked the female leads together. If you love modern takes on mythology then definitely pick up this author's "A Memory's Muses" series.

Interesting premise. A story about gods and humans living amicably together on earth. And the muse of love being sued for not doing her job properly! Entertaining story that does occasionally give you pause for thought.

All the books in this series have been exquisite, but Lines of Love is undoubtedly the best yet. I wait for each of the books to come out, staring at the calendar and then the pre-order graphic. Finally, I have it in my hands, then don’t want to read it because of the sense of anticipation. When I do get to it, I can’t stop until I’m finished.
Lines of Love was no different except I had an ARC and I’ve read it twice.
Eris is the Muse of Love and retired and off her game. The world takes her to task for what they conceive is her lack of care. Grace Gordon is her lawyer. Both characters are so beautifully drawn, each with their own foibles and issues. There is something between them, but each is concerned about what love is and whether they need it.
This is why Brey Willows is such a clever author. She is asking about what love is and how the world works with and without it. We see her dealing with Aphrodite and Cupid and members of the population. Then we see it cleverly intertwined into Eris and Grace’s questions. The story keeps you turning the pages and I found myself asking the same questions as Eris. What is love and do we need it? If so, why?
Aphrodite and Cupid are well characterized and are nothing like the reader would expect, they are deliciously different. The book is full of characters that you may know from popular tales and legends, but here they have the Willows treatment and become someone unexpected. Read and you will understand.
In summary, this book is wondrous, readable, and I’m already waiting for the next one.