While i don't read many classic myth retellings, so don't know what to generally expect, i really did enjoy this story and how unique it felt to me. I really really really enjoyed how some aspects of the classic were turned on its head too. The fact its a sapphic love story, Eros is a woman, and the way the author weaves everything together was simply magical to me.

The writing style in form of being a classic retelling was extremely lyrical and ethereal. While it was hard to read and understand at times, it's definitely a book that should be savored and not rushed.

There were so many twists and turns, and so many times i felt like i knew what had happened and was completely wrong. I especially loved how there was a struggle and the fact that things didn't just spontaneously fall together for the main characters. I feel like it would have just cheapened everything that this book represents.

Again, i loved how this story explored relationships, both romantic and platonic, and depicted both the good and the bad in people. Especially the fact that relationships can seemingly change out of nowhere for the worst, and that at the end of the day not everyone has your best interests at heart, or are genuine. Sometimes its better to simply let go and cut people off.

In this retelling of the classic myth, the main plot points remain the same but Eros is feminine-presenting, genderfluid (?) and intersex.

This is more than just a gender-bent sapphic reimagining of the myth. By making Eros another woman, I think this novel cleverly tricks us into believing initially that their relationship was going to be smooth-sailing. The author holds miserable women characters up as foils against which we evaluate Psyche’s situation. Any encounter with a man is one that is charged with violence, both latent and potent.

“If it’s two women, perhaps all these problems can be prevented and the relationship will be problem-free!” Well, not really. Anyone who has read Carmen Maria Machado can tell you that.

Even though Psyche and Eros are technically women/ feminine-coded, there is still a stark difference in how much power they respectively wield that makes it impossible for their bubble to remain un-burst.

The crux of the novel seems to be about how to achieve a truly equal relationship between two people—one that is built on fairness, sharing power, and understanding, but which must be grounded in self-respect and free will.

Another message that I can get behind is how sometimes, other women are not your sisters. Even your own blood sisters may not truly have your interests in mind. Sometimes, they’re jealous bitches who are rooting for you to fail and suffer a miserable life. It’s okay to cut them off with grace and focus your attention on those who have supported you unwaveringly.

This novel was truly ethereal. The prose is ethereal, the writing lyrical, and the story truly truly stunning.

Possibly a favourite read of 2024 and I cannot wait to shout about this when it is released.

I liked the writing style and the plot. It’s very enticing. The characters seem to have their own individual qualities. There were so many heartbreaking moments and memories. I am glad Psyche and Eros found each other. This is a greek retelling and the book focuses on self discovery, accepting the love we deserve, enviousness, how judgments, opinions and expectations affects one and finding yourself at the end.

This follows the odyssey of Psyche, she captured the eye of every suitor but something was so unsettling with Aphrodite. Her jealousy turned her world upside down and with a twist of fate, Psyche was all set to be sacrificed to a monstrous husband but again destiny takes a different turn and Eros, the goddess of desire shows up. From there the destiny changes the direction and the two of them develops an unbreakable bond and the discovery of pleasure changes their perspectives but will everyone accept the truth or will others judgments and opinions affect them?

Thanks to the publisher and Author.

A smutty queer Greek mythology re telling.
I went in to this one completely blind. I will read every Greek myth I can get my hands on. However, I’m not a fan of smut, at all, and unfortunately I would say 3/4 times of this book was completely that.
It was though, beautifully written and I would absolutely read more from this author based on their writing.

The Palace of Eros is a queer retelling of Eros and Psyche from Greek mythology. Psyche has caught the eye of men from all around, but Aphrodite isn't happy with this, and the oracle says Psyche must be sacrificed to a monstrous husband as penance. However, when Psyche finds herself in a strange palace, it isn't a monster she finds in the darkness, but love. That lover is Eros, Aphrodite's daughter and the genderfluid goddess of desire, who must stay hidden to ensure the gods don't know about them, but Psyche wishes to look upon her lover's face, even if it might bring ruin to them.

The description and depiction of genderfluidity drew me to this book, even though I'm not a big mythology retelling fan (I just find there's too many that all seem the same and have similar writing styles), and the opening felt like it was justifying my dislike, being very much in the same vibe as other mythology retellings in terms of style and content. However, once Psyche was in Eros' palace, the book changed a lot, becoming more readable, though with not much plot going on. It essentially becomes more of a romance novel, and works better for it, whilst weaving in Eros' backstory which in typical Greek mythology style is a bit horrible. The final part is dramatic and fast paced, maybe a bit too neatly resolved and with a lot of focus on Psyche getting in speeches about freedom and feminism, but it suits the romance feel that the book takes on, and will probably satisfy readers who like how this book combines the feminist mythology retelling with a romance novel.

It's nice to see a retelling focused on a queer relationship and a genderqueer character, written by someone who can deliver some nuance on that, particularly on the latter and how gender fluidity can be quite different for different people(/gods). I found the side characters weren't particularly interesting, with gods painted using broad strokes and Psyche's family lacking relevance as the book went on, but if you the view the book more as romance than retelling, it makes sense for the focus to be so firmly on Psyche and Eros' relationship, and what got them to the places in the book. I don't know enough about the original myth to comment on it as a reimagining, but I did feel that at times it did the things I don't enjoy about mythology retellings where they focus in on characters having more 'modern' viewpoints to show they are progressive and want to change the patriarchal, often dark and complicated world of Greek mythology.

The Palace of Eros was at times a fun, thrilling look at queer love, fluidity, and the price people pay for desire, but I found the start and the end a bit too 'Greek mythology retelling by numbers', which might mean that it is ideal for fans of the genre. It offers space for different readings about gender and sexuality, which felt like more than you might tend to get from a 'this is a queer version of an existing story' book, and it doesn't shy away from sex and desire, just as you'd imagine from a novel about Eros.

A lyrical gender fluid retelling of the myth of Eros and Pysche. Caro de Robertis' writing is poetic and emotive, bringing a creative and unique angle to the story which has been retold by numerous authors. However the writing gets repetitive, and the book dragged for most of the story. Not for me.

This title was incredible, the way Caro De Robertis captured the mythology aspect but in a way that is not dry but stunningly engaging was fantastic. Their writing was beautiful and very lyrical. It was exactly what i needed from a sapphic greek myhtology retelling.

I have never read a Psyche and Eros story and I now have a new found love for this story. It is gender fluid, queer and shone a light on the rules and boundaries of marriage.

The Palace of Eros tells the story of Eros and Psyche. The beautiful Psyche draws a lot of suitors to her rural village -against her wishes- who claim she is more beautiful than Aphrodite. We all know the goddess can't stand such things, so she curses the family (unhappy marriages for her sisters) as well as the town.

Psyche wants to get away, but is instead punished for her beauty. Her father goes to a local Oracle, who tells him to tie Psyche to a rock to be ravaged by a monstrous husband. This a trick of Eros, who was sent by their mother to destroy Psyche, but had a coup de foudre upon seeing Psyche at the loom in the garden.

Eros transports Psyche to their palace, but only comes to her at night, without light, for night full of passion and love. Yet doubts sneak their way into Psyche's mind.

It's not just another feminist retelling. It's a book a book about patriarchy and conservative values and how they affect people who feel they don't 'meet the requirements'.

The author captures the emotions and fears very well of girls who have to get married with men their father likes but they don't, the way their mother reacts to that, the unhappy marriages, marital violence...

But the main thing is that Eros gender fluid which is a very interesting point of view. The gods react in a conservative way to it. Zeus forces Eros to be male or female. There can be a switch, as long as Eros isn't both at the same time. A lot of views people hold today are very well reflected in this book.

I enjoyed this story very much. It's told in the most lovely slow pace which allows you to reflect.Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Such a gorgeous novel.
Poetic words.
A gently fierce storyline of love and passion and betrayal and self revelation.
All the years I have spent looking for a queer novel that held my interest, I have signally found one that weaves a storyline so beautifully.
I intensely enjoyed the retelling of Psyches’ story, being able to bear witness to her ruminations.
At times, there were some words and dialogue that didn’t quite fit with the history but that’s such a minor consideration.
I high recommend and appreciate this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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!

Another case of liked but didn't love (oh the irony). The Palace of Eros is a sapphic, gender fluid Greek retelling that really feels like a mythical romance. The writing is beautiful, bringing to mind the atmosphere of spoken stories of old, however it's also it's biggest downfall. The purple prose left me feeling detached from the characters, and the slow pacing made the action few and far between. A lot of the story is dragged out where nothing at all happens, and I did struggle to plod through this at times.

However the characterisation is really well done, and I liked the discussions around sex and gender that fitted in well with the original story.

this book is a beautiful read, with poetic and lyrical writing that captures the essence of the retell love story. It's a great choice for anyone who enjoys mythology and has a soft spot for these kinds of tales. True, I think it is like erotic way of saying this story. I won't be their cup of tea for everyone. You will be thinking, what the hell am I reading? This is about to define your own place in the world about finding your gender, find who you are. So at the beginning, I wasn't really combining to read this book and enjoy it, but after couple of chapters, I was really engaged to it, and I really enjoyed it. I think it's very good In the end,

This is a book of poetic and lyrical writing. I'm a great lover of the story of Psyche and Eros and its retelling and this is the first time I encounter one that highlights a queer love story and gender fluidity. The novel is well-constructed, the characters are interesting and knowing the original myth, I knew that was going to be explicit content and that sex and desire would be at the heart of the plot. But still it was too much for my liking, and ended up diminishing my interest in the story. I'm still pleased that this myth has finally been given a more inclusive rewrite, and I'm sure it will win over a huge audience !

I received an early e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! Greek mythology retellings are some of my favourites, and this did not disappoint. I didn't know the story of Psyche and Eros too well, so it was nice to have a good retelling of a lesser known story. The writing was beautiful, and I loved the characterisation. I believe Eros is male in the original myths, so having Eros as female/gender fluid was an interesting twist (and I can't resist a wlw romance!) There was some spice, but that definitely wasn't the focus of the book.
This is probably the first Greek mythology retelling I've read that has a happy ending (and no one dies!) I do love a Greek tragedy, but this book was a refreshing change.
I enjoyed this book a lot and would definitely read more from this author :)

I coudln't have been more happy with this book! I'm a huge fan of greek mythology so I immediately knew I had to read it and wasn't disappointed. The writing style of the author is great and a bit spicy, which I like but know it's not for everyone. Overall it's very poetic and amazing to read.

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!

OMG WHY IS THIS SO GOOD. I have always been so invested in Greek mythology and Eros and psyche is just a classic. This book brought around a new perspective to the classic love story and I wish the book wouldn’t have ended

A delightful retelling of the love story of psyche and Eros, beautiful and tragic like all the Greek myths but with a unique plot twist. The writing is beautiful, very poetic and a pleasure to read. I’m not much of a fan of the erotic stuff and there was a lot of it, I found a lot of the middle portion of the book a bit of drag, and a little unnecessary. Overall It is an enjoyable book, but I think it should be listed as romance/erotic fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC

thank you netgalley for the chance to read this!

i dont think words can describe for beautiful this book is. stunningly written. though i felt like the last 30% moved a bit too fast, still loved every minute, every word.