Destined

Destined #1

by Jessie Harrell

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Genres: Mythology, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Greek Mythology, Retellings

360 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2011

About the author

By day, I'm an appellate lawyer. By night, I'm a wife, mother of two, and author/lover of all things Greek mythology. I'm a native Floridian, frustrated world traveler, unrepentant dreamer, lover of acoustic music and not-so-closet geek. Destined, released November 17, 2011, is my first novel. Stay tuned for Beneath the Surface, co-written with the amazing Brooklyn Grant, coming summer 2012.

Reviews

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read Percy Jackson earlier this year, I've been really interested in Greek mythology. I hadn't really delved into the subject before. I knew the names and that's about as far as my knowledge went. But since Percy, I've realized how interesting it really is. As soon as I saw that Destined was a retelling of the Eros & Psyche story, I was instantly intrigued by it. Especially since I hadn't read the original tale. I can't comment on the comparison between the original and this retelling, but I was very pleased with Jessie Harrell's modern take on it.

After refusing Aphrodite's request to marry her very rude son, Psyche has been given a prophecy that sound especially grim: She is apparently destined to marry a monster. Unbeknownst to her, Eros, who has accidentally nicked himself with one of his arrows and is now head over heals in love with her, is the one who arranged this so-called prophecy. He must then hide his identity and try to win her love.

Psyche is a truly sweet character that I completely adored. She is fun, stubborn and amazingly beautiful inside and out. Her life has taken quite a turn and I thought her reactions were up to par with my expectations. She wasn't pathetic or extreme about it, she was strong, very mature and most important of all - real! I found her personality very refreshing. Eros, misunderstood and caring, makes an easily likeable character and love interest. I felt his love and admiration for Psyche. I was rooting for him the whole way through. However, I found there was not a great amount of chemistry between the two until towards the end. As for the other characters; some of them that we came upon, I didn't really care for: Iris, Helios, Hestia. They seemed a bit unnecessary to the story except for adding more Greek mythology into it. However I did enjoy seeing Persephone and Charon. They held a more important role and their personalities were a fun addition.

With that said, there is quite a lot of Greek mythology mentioned in Destined. It's not to say that if you're not familiar with mythology you won't enjoy it, but you may not understand or appreciate it as much as someone who knows the names and bios, at least a little. It gives the story much more appeal if you know, for example, when Poseidon is mentioned, that he is the god of the sea. Some of it is specified in the novel, but not always, and never in great detail. Since I was familiar with most of it, though, I really loved getting reacquainted with the gods and goddesses in Jessie's take.

Beautiful and heartbreaking, Jessie Harrell's Destined is a delightful retelling that is full of crazy events and fun personalities. Even though I deduced them from the beginning, the twists and turns makes for an entertaining adventure. I would particularly recommend it to all Greek mythology fans. I look forward to reading more of Jessie's novels.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE REVIEW

Why this book?

The myth always interested me

What I thought



This is a retelling of The Cupid & Psyche myth it’s not the best retelling of the myth I read, but it still was pretty good. This was cute fast paced read that kept me interested. It had some great characterization and the romance was intriguing. The first half of the book was definitely better than the second half. It felt magical when she was in the palace with the invisible servants and the mystery guy. The second half when she was on her journey was a little slow for my taste. This book is also a lot like East of the Sun and West of the Moon, which is one of my favorite fairytales. If you love Greek mythology and want a story with a great twist this is the story for you.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't really know where to start with this one. I feel kind of bad for giving this a 1 star rating, which is unusual since I tend to feel quite strongly about 1 star books. It wasn't a horrible read, and if I were much younger and very bored, I would have given DESTINED maybe 2 or 3 stars. On the other hand, very few books in my life have made me lament the time I would spend reading.

On that note, I couldn't bring myself to finish reading it. I read up to the 65% mark, and just had to put it down.

DESTINED recounts the Cupid and Psyche myth in story format. The story is set in Ancient Greece, and focuses around Psyche, whose beauty attracts Aphrodite's attention. After Psyche manages to offend Aphrodite, she is cursed to fall in love with a terrible a monster. However, Eros pricks himself with an arrow and instead falls deeply in love with Psyche.

I appreciate the effort put into this book. It's engaging at times, and I do like the author's portrayal of the gods as one big dysfunctional family with a lot of violent prima donna complexes.

But the writing definitely needs work, as does characterization. The dialogue is peppered with modern-day AMERICAN slang. Descriptions of setting were strangely anachronistic. Psyche mentions looking at a bookshelf in her room while her maid dresses her hair. Did they even have books in Ancient Greece, given that printing was not widespread until like 1500 AD? Did she mean to say "scroll shelf" instead? It took me a good forty pages to realize that the story was taking place in Ancient Greece, not American suburbia. Never a good start to a novel.

Furthermore, the protagonists were one-dimensional and unlikable. Psyche vacillates between being a Mary Sue to being insufferably immature. Eros lacks any real depth, outside of his love for Psyche.

But what really drove this book down to a 1 star rating was its stunning lack of originality. The Cupid and Psyche myth is a story that is appealing to our modern society. In fact, I would say that it was probably *THE* YA romance of Ancient Greece. We have a beautiful girl who is supposedly sacrificed to a monster. But in reality, the monster turns out to be the gorgeous God of Love, who must deign to win the love of a mere mortal. After some wooing and hardships, Psyche becomes immortal and the couple live happily ever after.

What girl wouldn't want to be Psyche?

So if there is a modern retelling, I expect there to be something special or unique about the story. Unfortunately, this book is a subpar rehash of the Greek myth itself, told with a modern voice and, sadly, dumbed down to be a quasi-romance between two very immature people.

Overall, a frustrating read. 1 star, plus regrets that I even spent money on this book. Granted it was $0.99, but still. Meh.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars, but I'm giving the woman a bit of lax as my good deed for the day. And this will also be quite a short review because, well, there really isn't much to talk about from this book.

[image error]
I know; I'm such a kind soul.

This is my second delve into the self-published genre doing my stay here at Goodreads, and here are the good things about this book that I don't see in most other books regarding Greek mythology *cough cough* Starcrossed *cough cough*

If you have no idea what I mean just check out my review here.

For the most part Harrell did have all of the right information regarded Helen and Paris and the story of Psyche and Cupid. Like I've said in other reviews regarding the subject of Greeks and Romans; I'm not some master's degree professor who's spent their whole life researching this, but I do tend to think myself more well versed than the average Goodreads member and as far as I could tell most of what she had was correct. Although, what she did include was correct there were things that she omitted, but that's for what she did wrong, so I'll save that little tidbit for later.

The plot and pacing was alright, as well. This is a quick little story with no real surprises regardless of whether or not you know you Greek mythology which is a bit of a good thing and a bad thing. Good in the way that you're never going to get a bad surprise but never a good one, either. There's just nor really much to say about it; it's really predicable. In my case that's okay because after the last couple of books I've read I've needed some predictability but if you've read a lot of really more boring books then this one will probably not be your cup of tea.

Oh, and the last good thing is that if you've a penny pincher like me and you just want to sate your reading thirst until something better comes out, this book is only 99 cents if you buy it on your kindle; it's a decent little in-between read.

2. What Harrell did wrong.

As stated earlier, there was nothing with Harrel's mythology that she did wrong, necessarily, but there are things that were omitted by either personal choice or because of maybe the public/age group she was shooting for that should have been in there. First thing was that after Cupid left Psyche when she figured out who the person in her bed was, she realized that she was pregnant so that quite obviously means that she had sex with him. This never happened in Destined and I feel like it should have; if you're going to make a book off of something you either have to make it as close to the actual story as possible or make it almost completely different, so people can't say you weren't totally accurate because you weren't trying to be, like the novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone (you should really check that book out if you haven't already, by the way). And one of the big things that was left out was the fact that Cupid stopped shooting his arrows and began to make the world grow old after a month, and if it had been in Destined I also feel like that could have been a great thing for the slightly struggling plot. Another gory detail was the Psyche had two other sisters not just one, and in a slightly cunning but as I said gory trick was that after her older sisters had deceived her she told both of them that Cupid had chosen them as his wife, and should jump off of the mountain to join him. They do so, and Zephyrus doesn't carry them off and they both die at the bottom. In Destined Psyche was a bit of a wimp and spent a lot of time making it all her fault that her sister hated her and never really got mad or did anything badass; she was just overall a weak character. Psyche also didn't just trip and open the box containing Persephone's beauty; she opened the box because she wanted to have the beauty an ended up in eternal sleep. There was just a lot of things that Harrell omitted that I felt like really could have helped this book, but she just left them out and that was a shame.

[image error]
Even the blue man agrees with me. Such a shame.

Oh, and as a little aside, does anyone know if the story of Cupid and Psyche being in the castle and Psyche living in a castle, but never being able to see Cupid's face at night has any sort of relation to the story of the polar bear from the classic fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon ( don't quote me on that, though I'm not sure) who took the girl to his castle and came into her bed each night but told her not to look at his face, and she became pregnant, one day because of her own doubt looked at his face, he left, and then she had to go across the countryside to find him again? Because it sure sounds like it.

And the last not-so-great aspect of this book was the action written, because there basically wasn't any. I could tell that Harrell tried; especially with the three-headed hellhound, but it was very anti-climactic, was much too quickly over, and basically boring. My blood never got pumping and I was never clenching my fingers to the pages (although in this sense it would have been metaphorically because I was reading this on my kindle), not knowing if someone would live or die if I flipped to the next one, and I miss having that.

And the romance sucked. It was confusing, totally fake feeling, and just plain not enjoyable. Again, there's not really much to talk about because it was basically so unimportant that I didn't pay attention. Sad, right?

Basically, read this book if you want an in-betweener during a drought of either money or books. It's not really good for much else. Maybe you'll like it better than me, but I doubt it.

This was Cait, and I'm rollin out of this review. Peace.

[image error]
Fangirl squeal

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destined is a book I came across only a few weeks ago and at first, it was the cover that caught my eye. I absolutely love it, it’s really beautiful. But then when I read the blurb, I was really intrigued with this book because Cupid and Greek Gods tied into a love story, who wouldn’t be?

When Psyche is taken under the wing of Aphrodite, she is thrilled and she is told she will become the new face of Greece. But when Psyche turns down Aphrodite’s request to marry her son Eros, she’s left in a world of trouble, because now the powerful goddess has it in for her.

With Aphrodite on the war path, Psyche tries to keep out of her way but when a prophecy reveals that Psyche will have a hideous future and will fall in love with a creature even the god’s fear, she’s lead straight into Aphrodite’s world. But can she escape what is destined? Or will she fall into the arms of the one everyone fears?

Destined is an exciting, fresh and unique story. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before and I think Jessie Harrell did an amazing job recreating the story of Greek Gods and Cupid. Greek Mythology has been popping up everywhere lately and honestly, it’s fast becoming my favourite. So automatically….Jessie gets a win from me.

What I loved about this book were the characters that were most memorable for me. I loved Psyche’s character. I loved how strong and willing she was but I also liked her more vulnerable side and reactions during the book was very realistic. Baring in mind she’s a young girl and I thought all the qualities Jessie showed in her reflected very well. Now Eros, oh Eros! I absolutely LOVED him! He’s the type of guy that leaves you breathless and wishing that Cupid was actually real. He’s one of them guys that don’t believe he will ever find love because he’s been hurt in the past but when he finally finds the one, he becomes a completely different person. His love consumes him and he becomes so selfless that he will do anything to protect her. Yeah, you can see why I love him. ;)

The storyline itself was heart-breaking beautiful with twists and turns you don’t see coming. You would think the story would be slightly predictable but Jessie Harrell leaves us readers in suspense until the very last chapter.

Honestly, this is not a book you want to miss it 2011. If you’re looking for a story that will leave you speechless…..then this is for you and I can not wait to read more by this author in the future.

A huge thank you to Jessie Harrell for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

[Jessie Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard as the author to be fair and unbiased about your own work, isn't it? And certainly I've gone through moments of loving this story enough to want to kiss it, and hating it so much I wanted to give up. Ultimately, how you feel about Destined will be very personal to you and what you like out of a story. Truly, I hope this appeals to you. But I appreciate that not all books are for all people. If they were, the book store would be a very boring place.

So enjoy and feel free to leave an honest review when you're done. You have the right to your opinion, just like I have the right to mine. And I thank you for dedicating your precious time (reading and reviewing) to me and my book.

~ Jessie
www.jessieharrell.com
http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, bare with me here, as I attempt to express my dislike towards Destined. I don't mean anything against the author, her writing was alright, great even... but the book as a whole was lacking in so many departments.

I love Greek mythology, retelling and the like, but this fell short. I read this book slowly, over the course of the week, and it was more a means of procrastination, rather than for enjoyment. I found myself reading, but not enjoying.


I would read a few chapters every night, which did actually help my sleeping habits!



Like I mentioned earlier, the actual writing quality was half bad. It was actually really good, and I can see why many people like this book.

Many of the references, connections and plot components, however, didn't add up. The limitations of the Gods totally contradicted other actions that they completed. I felt like their amazing powers would suddenly go AWOL, when they needed it most. And an explanation wasn't even provided.



And the romance. If you can call it that. Without giving away too many spoilers, let's just say that it was majorly over the top. Forcing your love upon someone, telling them you love them 24/7. Excuse me if I missed the memo about that being the way to reverse the effects of unrequited love.





Ugh, and then, of course, we must have the compulsory chasing and fleeing and misunderstanding and stupid reunion where no-one sheds a tear at all.

All the characters had less life than a limp leaf of lettuce. Stupid decisions, forced, insta-love, bland emotions and just 10 out of 10 on the annoying spectrum.

The most interesting part were the golden rams.



Other than that, the book was just downright yuck. Questions were raised which weren't answered. There was no full resolution, or reason for certain things happening, or not happening. I mean, she questions his love being forced towards the end, but never finds out the truth... yet goes with it anyway. Ugh. Pathetic heroine, hero, story, blah, blah, blah. Okay. I'm done.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

*An ARC was provided by Mae Daay Publishing in exchange for an onest review*

Wow. That's all I can say. Wow. I don't usually go for these kinds of books, but am I ever glad I read this one.

The plot was amazing. I loved how Jessie Harrell managed to keep my attention throughout the whole book, even though there weren't many exciting events. I loved that Harrell told the story from two points of view: Psyche and Eros's. It worked perfectly, and she changed to views at just the right time so she kept the suspense up. The book was so captivating, I honestly didn't want to stop reading it. I didn't even want to go to bed at night, I just wanted to read all 24 hours of the day. Also another thing I really liked was that she kept Pyche and Eros's relationship innocent. I hate books were they do It every other night and I don't think I would have liked this book half as much as I do if they had done that. I'm glad Harrell kept it to kissing and hugging. :P

I loved Psyche. Although she was super-beautiful, she wasn't conceited and vain. And I loved that she was strong enough to finish the tasks at the end of the book.
I also loved Eros. In the beginning I thought he was a jerk, but he definitely grew on me, and I ended up really liking him. He was so sweet to Psyche.

All in all, one of my favorite books. EVER. I can't wait to see the next book Jessie Harrell writes.

Huge thanks so Jessie Harrell and Mae Day Publishing for sending me this book to review. And extra thanks to Jessie Harrell for signing it.


~Emily @ Emily's Crammed Bookshelf

[ILoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. There have been several remakes of Cupid and Psyche, but this book was the most memorable for me. I loved Psyche's character, I think the author was able to capture her young age perfectly and thus her reactions. Psyche can be a tad impetuous and even impulsive, but she has many good qualities. She is willing to endure lethal tasks for her love interest, Cupid aka Eros.



Eros's character was complex as well. He has been hurt before by women his mother, Aphrodite, chose for him. He actually reacts badly to Psyche the first time he sees her, indicative of the rocky relationship to come. However, he can be incredibly caring and sweet.



The secondary characters, particularly Charon. They each have unique qualities the reader will remember. They round out the story. The events were very fast-paced, but the author never makes the reader feel rushed. The tasks Psyche had to fulfill could almost have been slightly longer, but the reader doesn't have to wade through too many details the way the author lays out the tasks.



This book was impossible to put down. I had to know what was going to happen to Eros and Psyche's relationship and the lengths Aphrodite would go to to meddle in their budding love. This book is highly recommended to teens/young adults.

[Parvathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about retellings, especially mythological retellings is that the sense of mystery or anticipation that you feel as the story progresses is pretty much low. There are interpretations and reinterpretations of the myth circulating around giving you insights into different characters, you are not confronted with anything new by this venture. But still you persist because they are well loved characters and it is always good to read about them. The story of Eros or Cupid and Psyche is belongs to this category. My fascination with their story has always made me seek out various interpretation of the same and this is the first one I found. It is suffice to say that it was not a bad retelling infact it was quiet good compared to other retellings I had the misfortune to read but still I am not entirely satisfied. It goes without saying the story is good, the charcters though are different matter. When a story has a main character you don't feel like rooting for then you are bound to feel let down no matter how good the story is. That is exactly how I felt for Psyche, even though Eros kept on saying about her inner beauty and they way he could see right into her soul I couldn't find any evidence to substantiate that aspect of her character except for a few instance towards the end of the story by which time it was too late to redeem her, atleast in my eyes. Also the character of Psyche was kind of unbelievable at times, first when she was bitching about all the attention she was recieving and Aphrodite naming her as her new daughter, then she decides to get married and tries to get married to the first person who has anything in common with. But the thing that really got to me was Psyche's reaction when her sister tried to turn her against Eros. One moment she is resigned to the fact that she is to be sacrificed to some monster, the next thing she is living in a beautiful palace with invisible servants who cater to her every whims and fancies and a guy who visits her at night declaring his undying love for her. She begins to fall for him which is expected and believes strongly that he would never hurt her. Then her sisters comes to visit, tells her she is in the hands of a monster who is fattening her up to eat her in the end and asks her to save herself by killing him. Next thing you know she is waiting for him with a knife and a lantern( to see his face before she kills him) and is not even having second thoughts about her decision. If this is her so called "love" then I find it hard to believe that she can be swayed to think this way so easily. Then she sees its Eros and all of a sudden she is madly in love with him (the very same monster she was willing to kill without rethinking). A character who falls for good looks and not personality doesn't rank much high in my book. But the story wouldn't progress much without such a twist, so it is to be expected but then all her talk about her undying love for Eros after this particular incident started grating on my nerves. If she just wanted to see his face I could have forgiven her little lapse but she also planned to kill him which is not good. The rest of the story just progressed in a very fast pace which was a blessing because I couldn't take anymore of Psyche's self loathing at that point but I can't complain much because I knew she was a too stupid too live heroine from the very beginning. Eros also was equally unbelievable at parts, I didn't particularly like the fact that he fell in love with Psyche because he accidently grazed himself with an arrow of his but in the end he managed to really fall in love with Psyche and forgive her for her human misgivings. Also he did manage to stand up for Psyche in front of his mother which scores him some points. The end was a bit rushed and left out details about many other main characters.
One thing I really liked about this book though was the portrayal of different gods and goddesses. Especially the portrayal of Persephone as the Queen of the Underworld who is actaually a very cheery person and in love with her husband Hades so much that she has put off visiting Earth for sometime and her mother being all understanding saying that spring will come no matter how she decides was kind of new for me because in all the fiction books I have come across based on Greek mythology Persephone is a bitter character. She and Charon actually made the underworld feel like a likable place. The author should be commented for bringing into focus one important aspect about the myth of afterlife that occurs when Psyche asks Charon who were the souls drowning on river Styx and he explains that those are the ones that does have a coin to pay for their passage to the underworld Psyche reaction throws light on the fact of using mythology as a means to show that only the rich and the pampered gets to go to the afterlife and the poor are left to suffer for all eternity. Propagating the superiority of the rich class over the poor. The author did do her homework regarding the myths and that itself has lend a superior quality to this book. For all those who have an interest in mythology this book is a must read if you are not put off by "Twilight" kind of characters.

[Kiona (Books & Cafes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on http://www.yareads.com

ADORABLE. Days after finishing Destined, I can’t stop thinking about it. And every time I do, I get this warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach. After a slew of contemporary and dystopian novels, Destined was exactly what I needed. This book retells the classic myth of Psyche and Eros, otherwise known as Cupid. It takes place in ancient Greece and while the story is set in the past, it’s given a current spin. The dialogue, mannerisms, and ways of thinking all reflect the present. This gives Destined a unique, incredibly fun flair. It’s also hard to put down and easy to love.

Destined reminds me of a mix between three of my favorite movies: Hercules, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. I think it’d be pretty hard to read this book and not make the Hercules connection. I mean, that’s where my basic knowledge of Greek mythology comes from. Harrell portrays all the gods and goddesses in a comedic and distinct light. At no point does it feel like she’s just relying on the reader’s preconceived notions of how these immortals should act. Harrell takes the time to characterize each god or goddess, bringing them to life in a refreshing manner. She doesn’t just accept that you already know who Aphrodite is, but instead shows you the real Aphrodite. I loved all the mythology and traditions present in Destined. I also loved the fantastical and sometimes frightening/creepy elements that reminded me of Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. It wasn’t super creepy or anything, but just imagining myself in Psyche’s shoes as she faced the creature that “even the gods feared” allowed me to sympathize completely with how freaked out she was. Honestly, in her place, I would’ve been freaking out ten times more.

The relationship between Psyche and Eros is perfectly swoon-worthy. This is one of the few instances where I don’t want the amazing love interest for myself, but only because he and Psyche are so perfect together. I was rooting for their relationship from the moment they met. Harrell provides the benefit of switching between each of their points of view, which gives Eros dimension and substance, so that he doesn’t just come across as a physically flawless, yet empty shell. The only problem with seeing his point of view is that it’ll make you fall even more in love with him — and then silently beg Psyche to do the same. Even as I think of it now, I just want to read it again.

If you’re looking for the world’s most heartwarming and heart-achingly romantic love story, do yourself a favor and read Destined. Harrell’s writing style is succinct and elegant. She engages all five senses and paints amazingly vivid scenes. I’d also recommend listening to “Crack the Shutters” by Snow Patrol — Harrell’s “signature song” for Psyche and Eros — before, during, and after you read it. The song fits their story perfectly. And it’s also just plain beautiful, kind of like Destined.

[YA Reads Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ADORABLE. Days after finishing Destined, I can’t stop thinking about it. And every time I do, I get this warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach. After a slew of contemporary and dystopian novels, Destined was exactly what I needed. This book retells the classic myth of Psyche and Eros, otherwise known as Cupid. It takes place in ancient Greece and while the story is set in the past, it’s given a current spin. The dialogue, mannerisms, and ways of thinking all reflect the present. This gives Destined a unique, incredibly fun flair. It’s also hard to put down and easy to love.

Destined reminds me of a mix between three of my favorite movies: Hercules, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. I think it’d be pretty hard to read this book and not make the Hercules connection. I mean, that’s where my basic knowledge of Greek mythology comes from. Harrell portrays all the gods and goddesses in a comedic and distinct light. At no point does it feel like she’s just relying on the reader’s preconceived notions of how these immortals should act. Harrell takes the time to characterize each god or goddess, bringing them to life in a refreshing manner. She doesn’t just accept that you already know who Aphrodite is, but instead shows you the real Aphrodite. I loved all the mythology and traditions present in Destined. I also loved the fantastical and sometimes frightening/creepy elements that reminded me of Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. It wasn’t super creepy or anything, but just imagining myself in Psyche’s shoes as she faced the creature that “even the gods feared” allowed me to sympathize completely with how freaked out she was. Honestly, in her place, I would’ve been freaking out ten times more.

The relationship between Psyche and Eros is perfectly swoon-worthy. This is one of the few instances where I don’t want the amazing love interest for myself, but only because he and Psyche are so perfect together. I was rooting for their relationship from the moment they met. Harrell provides the benefit of switching between each of their points of view, which gives Eros dimension and substance, so that he doesn’t just come across as a physically flawless, yet empty shell. The only problem with seeing his point of view is that it’ll make you fall even more in love with him — and then silently beg Psyche to do the same. Even as I think of it now, I just want to read it again.

If you’re looking for the world’s most heartwarming and heart-achingly romantic love story, do yourself a favor and read Destined. Harrell’s writing style is succinct and elegant. She engages all five senses and paints amazingly vivid scenes. I’d also recommend listening to “Crack the Shutters” by Snow Patrol — Harrell’s “signature song” for Psyche and Eros — before, during, and after you read it. The song fits their story perfectly. And it’s also just plain beautiful, kind of like Destined.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Summary:

Psyche knows the Greek Gods are real, after all she has one visiting her. Aphrodite has some plans for the most beautiful girl in all of Greece but Psyche may not go for those plans. What’s a girl to do after you seriously tick off the Goddess of Love. Umm, where can you hide from a Goddess? Psyche’s perfect life is in serious ruins and the oracles prophecy tells her just how bad it can get. But when Psyche feels herself actually falling for the creature she is fated to love and thus fulfilling the prophecy, she realizes that she really is powerless to fight what’s destined.

My Thoughts:

5 stars - a must read

Can I just say that the cover is gorgeous and perfect for this book.

Destined is a retelling of Cupid (Eros) and Psyche’s myth. I’ve only ever read one other version of this story and it was just okay. So really this was new to me. The world that Jessie creates is so fun. It’s ancient Greece but with modern vocabulary and spunk. Psyche makes some very teenage mistakes and then tries to fix things. In the process, she falls in love with the guy she never thought she could. I love the twist of fate there. As a matter of fact, there were lots of twists that I really enjoyed in this book. I will admit that I figured one big one out but it really made me happy so I didn’t care. There were even a couple of trials in this one. Very Greek! I have come to really enjoy the books based on some aspect of Greek mythology and this one was no exception.

The characters are fabulous. We meet so many Greek big names, all of them perfect. I loved Aphrodite. She wasn’t the silly love sick Goddess that has shown up in other books. No she was full of surprises. I loved her spunk! Speaking of spunk, Psyche was fabulous. That girl didn’t just have a pretty face. When things got tough, she worked her butt off for the guy she loved. She wasn’t a cute little thing looking for someone to save her. And Eros, I love Eros. Is it okay to have a crush on the Goddess of Love’s son? Hmm, could get me in trouble in lots of ways. Anyway, he wasn’t perfect by any means. He has quite the temper but he has this incredible heart. I was cheering for him all the way.

So if you’re looking for that really good book that you can pick up and read quickly then this is the book for you. Sometimes, I just need something that is fun and romantic to pick up my mood. This is the perfect choice.

If you like Greek mythology, then this is a must.

If you like romance, then this is a must.

If you love a great read, then this is a must.

Pick this one up, you won’t regret it.

[Devon Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psst... Do you feel that? It's the long, calming sigh of satisfaction you get once you read the last sentence in a truly heart-wrenching novel. You immediately say Aww and your heart warms a little. Sigh... And then disappointment cause you realize you've left that spectacular fantasy world containing the totally yummy, scrumpdidlyumptious hottie that you've been drooling over the past 200 pages and you're suddenly stuck back in reality without him. [Uh, no offense babe! I totally love you! heh heh...eh] Oh, well. The fantasy was good while it lasted.

So Psyche has been dubbed the new mortal daughter of Aphrodite by the goddess herself. Happy dance, right? Except it didn't work out too well for Aphrodite's first mortal daughter, Helen of Troy, did it? Uh...no. Psyche is blindsided but she goes with the flow - until Aphrodite brings her son Eros (aka Cupid) over and tells them she wants them to marry. Shocker, neither take to the news too well and end up throwing a few inappropriate comments. Eros is an immortal and gets to storm off to has his hissyfit but Aphrodite wants revenge against the mere human that dared to defy her wishes and reject her immortal son. She decides Psyche's destiny is to spend her remaining days in love with a despicable creature and declares that Eros must pierce her with one of his arrows to force this love upon her. But when the time comes to shoot Psyche, he finds he just can't do it and ends up nicking himself with the arrow. Now in love with Psyche himself, he must find a way to keep her safe and fulfill his mother's wishes all at the same time. Not an easy feat...

Now I will say that I know nothing about the myth involving Cupid and Psyche so I don't know how this compares, but I think any author deserves a little latitude when it comes to making it their own. I'm not one to criticize if it isn't an exact retelling - quite frankly I would find that boring (had I known it). I can say that I enjoyed watching these two characters grow to love one another once they put their pride aside and let their guards down long enough to do so. Sorta like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Sigh...

Anyways, Destiny offers reluctant lovers, lots of mythical characters (my fave being the dead man that ferries the dead, or shades, into the Underworld), swoon-worthy heartthrob, and some of those horrible 'tests' the Gods like to throw at you to see if you're worthy of their time.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live Chat with author 11/16 at 8 EST -- click the link to chat OR after for the transcript!Chat with Jessie Harrell

As soon as I saw the gorgeous cover for DESTINED months ago, I emailed Jessie Harrell and practically begged her to move up her publication date. Unfortunately, she couldn’t do that . . . but I was quick to pounce on her offer to review an ARC. See, I have a semi-obsession with Greek Mythology retellings and what I loved so much about DESTINED is the fresh new couple, Psyche and Eros. Not knowing much about their original myth, I was ready to be swept away by their love story and eagerly dove in.

Ms. Harrell used an interesting approach with the dual POV in the story, telling Psyche’s point of view in the intimate first person account, allowing us to really get into her head and heart and feel as though we are walking in her shoes, while telling Eros’s story in the more limited third person. While the transition between the two did jar me a little in the beginning, I found myself eagerly going back and forth, enjoying the unique nuances of the different modes of narration. For Eros in particular—the god of love who falls desperately for Psyche--the more distant narrative allowed him to retain a bit more of his masculine, swoony, god-like qualities, without coming across like a completely whipped mama’s boy.

Another noteworthy chance Ms. Harrell took was placing the story in Ancient Greece, but giving Psyche a modern day voice. Once the setting is firmly established, this gamble really pays off as it enhances the intimate quality of the story and will ultimately make it much more relatable for teens.

Eros was hot. I loved the arrogant, bad-boy vibe he exuded right from the beginning and enjoyed seeing the softer side underneath when he falls for Psyche. Psyche was a strong and spunky protagonist who was beautiful inside and out, while also having the fatal flaw of making a few rash, bad, bad, BAD decisions. I enjoyed the snippets of the other Olympians who made guest appearances throughout the book and my only complaint is that a certain major god who played an important role in Psyche’s past didn’t grace the page. Other than that, DESTINED was a fun, entertaining, and enlightening tromp through Greek mythology that I highly recommend.

[Beverly McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a boy, a girl, and a mother who wants to see them married. Mix. And you have a typical romance story, right? Well, sometimes. Other times you have romance, sure, but also adventure, sister rivalry, mortals, gods, and betrayals.

Author Jessie Harrell’s debut novel, Destined, has romance all right. It also contains much more. The boy, Eros, is a god. The girl, Psyche, is a mortal. Aphrodite, the mother of Eros, has chosen Psyche to serve as her daughter and also to marry her son. There are problems from the start, however. The two would-be lovers are strongly opposed to the marriage and make their feelings known. What’s a poor mother to do? Will Aphrodite find a new bride for her son? Will she punish Psyche for her unacceptable behavior regarding Eros? As the story unfolds, the reader follows the characters, sometimes wanting to shake them, other times wondering if the two lovers’ fates are destined or if they can change the future, at least these were the thoughts of this reader. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, the story would take a turn and introduce something totally unexpected, and I had to keep reading to see how the new developments worked out.

Now I know very little about mythology and gods and goddesses, but I loved Eros and Psyche, even though they weren’t always nice which made them more interesting, and I so wanted them to find happiness. Jessie Harrell raised the tension with each page, keeping the reader guessing what would happen next. She also threw in a couple of twists along the way, so I never was quite sure what to expect next. Whether you’re new to mythology, like me, or know all about the gods and goddesses, I think you’ll enjoy reading Destined. It’s a story well worth your time. I’m looking forward to more novels from this author.

###

I won the eBook in a contest.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I'm glad its not a series too. As much as I love series sometimes I enjoy just reading one long story. I mean you have to wait so damn long for a sequel and nearly all good books are part of a series these day it's nice to read a book with a good ending and a good story.
I can't keep track of all the series I'm reading especially when I'm reading five books a day with nearly all of the, being saga's or trilogy's and whatnot.

I could only find one fault with this book.
That we never got to see Psych meet Poseidon her real father. Since her parents will eventually die and him being her dad now that she's immortal you think she'd want to meet him eventually. I wish we got to see that.

Also I love Aphrodeity she's funny and cunning. But most of all protective an loving. I should have known she wouldn't really be so heartless and kill psych.

I loved this whole book though. It's so great and the ending was perfect.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this take on Psyche and Cupid. I use to teach middle school social studies and mythology was one of the topics we discussed while learning about ancient history. This would have been great to have back then for my readers! Harrell has taken a topic some may consider "dry" reading and made it current and understandable. I connected with the characters and appreciate the palpable tension you can feel when Psyche and Cupid first meet. All the angst you like in a romance and YA is here and done beautifully. That cover is amazing as well!!

[Cyp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at A Bookalicious Story.

*3.5 stars* First things first: I love the cover. Seriously, I mean, look at it! It has that very soft feel with that white and purple color combination, and the cushions.. And of course the model's absolutely beautiful. That cover is a real winner, I tell you. It was what caught my attention, then came the synopsis mentioning Greek mythology and I knew at that moment that I was a goner; I had to read DESTINED.

**Major spoiler ahead**

Psyche is the most beautiful girl of all Greece, and after having her portrait painted, she shot to stardom. Her beauty caught the attention of Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Aphrodite named Psyche her daughter, and in exchange for wealth and fame, she wanted Psyche to marry her immortal son, Eros (a.k.a. Cupid).

Eros, having been in love with a mortal girl once and brutally ditched, was furious when his mother proposed the idea in front of him and Psyche, who could be the very shadow of the girl he once loved. Psyche was adamant about opposing the idea of getting married so soon, and especially to a self-absorbed jerk like Eros. Since both of them disobeyed her so forthrightly, Aphrodite got mad and secretly commanded Eros to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous man who treated his woman badly. Eros would've done the deed gladly, thinking that beautiful women shouldn't be allowed to roam scot-free breaking men's hearts, but when he found Psyche crying in her garden (read the book to find out why she's crying), that gave him pause. He lowered his arrow of love/cupid arrow but accidentally nicked himself, and that made him fall in love with her with an all-consuming passion. HAH, all that historical Greek drama.

Anyway, since Eros can't let Psyche fall for another, he had to try his hand at meddling with Fate, and to circumvent his mother's orders and make Psyche fall in love with him. Kinda hard since her first impression of him is worse than bad and that she hates him already. But he did, and because of her listening to the advice of a petty, jealous kin, Psyche ruined Eros' plan and they had to go their separate ways. But Psyche can't let him go now, not when she has already lost her heart to him, so she embarks on a crazy adventure to win back Eros' trust, and to win the right to be by his side. Forever.

**End of spoiler zone**

Apart from a few flaws of the book (and they are pretty major), I did like DESTINED. It was a very beautiful narration of the historical fairytale of Cupid and Psyche.

I'll talk about the flaws first before I gush about the good. The biggest and most obvious flaw I spotted was the too-modern way of writing. I mean, you don't call someone a "twit" in Ancient Greece. The word hasn't even been invented in Ancient America! Lol, if there was such a thing. And you don't celebrate birthdays with cheesecakes. I mean, what? It's 2 generations after the epic Trojan War and you're bringing out cheesecakes? That's like 1900 B.C. we're talking about. And the way Psyche acted, she was practically a modern day American teenager. She was EIGHTEEN and she wasn't even married! Heck, her older sister wasn't even married. Girls in those days were eligible when they turn fifteen (or was that Ancient Egypt? But it shouldn't be far off)! The interactions were off and, well, just too modernised. If not for the modern language, I'd have gladly given this book a 4 or 4.5. I really liked it. A lot. But I do understand the dilemma that Harrell had because DESTINED is a YA novel, and to go with that genre, she couldn't use olden English.

Another thing I noticed, though significantly less important, is that Harrell switched from using the Greek gods and goddesses Roman and Greek names. For example, she used the name Aphrodite, which is the Greek counterpart to Venus, but she used the name Ceres, which was the Roman counterpart of Demeter. Really minor, but I saw it, so, just saying.

Thirdly, Helios wasn't the sun god anymore when Apollo was born. The titans were overthrown when the Olympians took over. In some texts, people believed that Apollo and Helios were one and the same, but in others, they believed that they were two separate entities. But even if they were two distinct gods, Apollo took over as sun god, so there couldn't be a Helios and an Apollo together in the book at the same time, and Apollo couldn't not be the sun god if he was in the story, which was what Harrell wrote.

Fourthly, even though the cover is gorgeous, it doesn't match the Ancient Greece setting. It was very misleading.

Anyway, now on to the things I did like. THE CHARACTERS!! I loved Eros and Psyche! Eros more because he was absolutely flawless, Psyche a little lesser because I'm not into pretty princesses. Much. Eros was, of course, drop-dead gorgeous and an impossible charmer, but under all that, he's just a guy suffering from a lost love and a really nice, kind, and loving romantic. Psyche, even though she indulges herself in crying when trouble comes along, she always stands up again, show the shit who's boss, always gets the job done and the problems solved. She's amazing, and she demonstrated great strength on her journey to find Eros after he left her. And when both of them are together, they are just one of the sweetest couples I have ever seen.

The first time I saw that our male protagonist would be Eros, I was thinking "isn't Cupid small, gay and so inconsequential"? And I saw reviewers gushing about him and his swoon-worthiness. I was so cynical about it all, but after I read DESTINED, I realised I was so wrong. Harrell made him sound so cheeky and so, well, sexy! And the way he wielded his arrows weren't gay at all. Trust me on this.

Other than their personalities, most of them had very human feelings. Like, for example, Chara, Psyche's older sister, felt jealousy and resentment towards Psyche when Chara was forced to marry an old king in the neighbouring, powerful country of Mycenae and Psyche got to have a handsome and charming god as her fiance. It made them seem more real and believable... More relatable.

The plot was fantastic. Harrell managed to balance romance, action, suspense, and all the other dynamics really well. I loved how she used the legend of Heracles' (or more commonly known as Hercules) 12 Labours and made a very clever imitation of it. The way Heracles was tricked into doing 12 instead of the original 10 labours because the person who ordered the labours done, who is King Eurystheus of Mycenae, managed to find loopholes. Harrell managed to do that. That, in itself, is a truly amazing feat. Subtle loopholes are difficult to create, and she actually incorporated her version of the 12 Labours (though Psyche's one was only 2) into DESTINED. Amazing, really amazing.

I have always harbored a deep interest in Greek mythology, and I loved how Harrell included some of the other gods and goddess as secondary characters. Hermes and Eros joked about stuff like brothers, Eros making Zeus fall for mortal women, and others. The only thing I was miffed about was that Hera wasn't such a philanthropist as Harrell depicted her to be. In all the history texts, Hera was, simply put, a B(itch). Nicely put, unkind. But well, her being a saint at heart worked in the protagonists' favor so I was actually feeling thankful that Hera was nice.

DESTINED is a beautiful debut novel about love, strength, and familial ties, cleverly using Greek mythology to portray these values. Other than the overly-mordernised language that bugged me a lot, I loved the cover, I loved the story, and I loved the characters... What more can a bibliophile ask for? I'd recommend this to YA Lit and Greek mythology fans.

P.S. I REALLY want a sequel!!!!! Sigh, but Harrell has just replied my tweet saying that she's planning a companion novel featuring a new couple! Well, at least now I still have something to look forward to.:D

[Kathy Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Awesome!

Before I say a word about Destined, I have a confession to make: when it comes to anything Greek Mythology related I am a total snob and a ruthless critic. I will admit this openly and freely -- I can't help it. I grew up with these myths, they influenced my writing in huge ways, and when I start reading something that is based on them I am generally filled with a mix of excitement and fear.

I often talk about books that have a great idea and fail when it comes to carrying out the concept, lacking the ability to "execute" it. This is very much a matter of opinion, as expectations from one reviewer to another can vary greatly. Well, now that I have a few of you sweating bullets, let me end the charade. Destined is by far the best use of Greek Myth within a modern text that I have ever read. It did not simply match my expectations -- it exceeded them in every possible way. Read on and I will give you all the details. (Hopefully without spoiling the book!)

The Plot: (Summary from GoodReads)

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Retelling a fairy tale or myth is always a strange beast. There are many different things at play. How much homage or authenticity do you want to give the original text or source material? How much do you want to change or make your own? Where's the line that something becomes totally original v.s. where one must question the purpose the author had in deciding to write what they did.

That's the first thing that I must commend Jessie Harrell on: she made calls that felt true to the story she was trying to tell, but at the same time I never had a moment reading Destined where I wanted to yell "What are you doing?!" at the writing. (At Psyche and Eros? Absolutely! But that's as it should be!)

Jessie took some chances, and I feel that they paid off. The blend of keeping her retelling in ancient Greece and keeping a lot of the situation happening real, mixed with the modern language suited the story very well. So did the alterations to the tale that allowed us to have a better glimpse at Psyche pre-Eros, along with her family and their overall situation. (In the original myth Aphrodite is simply jealous of Psyche's appearance. I absolutely *loved* the way that Jessie blended myths together so that they felt like they had a timeline and were connected and had effected those who took part in them.)

I also like the fact that Psyche is spirited and is constantly either taking action or actually reacting to what is happening around her. This is really important in a YA novel, and it is a judgement call where making sure to reach out to the modern audience was important. In the original story Psyche is a bit more passive and it was one of my concerns going into this that if it was kept as is it would not work, but if it was changed in the wrong way it would destroy the work. The ability to walk the fine line needed to succeed here shows that Jessie was both very in-tune with the myth she was working with, and with the readers who would be picking her book up.

The last thing I want to praise is the pacing. The fact that we get to fully explore a story or myth is often the thing that compels me to read a retelling the most, and when someone does something that stays this authentic while still adding their own 'flavor' to it, and I get to linger in a story I already loved and see the characters in that much more vivid detail, I am generally delighted. It's funny, really. It sort of boils down to how a good or bad movie can make people who read a book feel. Some things translate better then others, and in Destined the myth of Psyche and Eros translated very well.

The Characters:

Here's where something of this nature lives or dies for me when it comes to Greek Myth. And Jessie nailed it. The Gods could be extremely petty and cruel? Check. Yet they were essentially humans with superior abilities who were just as vulnerable to every other emotion, too? Once again, check.

As for Psyche and Eros... I felt that Psyche blended the traits she needed to be believable in the setting, while still embodying the qualities that will make modern readers find her relatable and worth cheering for. She is spunky, smart and says what she thinks even when that may not always be in her best interest. Through the pressure her family puts on her to get married (it would bring them tremendous wealth) modern readers may see the pressure they are under to get good grades, have the right friends, etc. Her curiosity, courage and compassion as she faces the consequences of her actions throughout the story make her very compelling and kept me very engaged in what I was reading.

Eros was well done, too. The perfect blend between a cocky young God, full of conceit and arrogance, mixed with a softer more caring side, with a wounded past that made the two sides of his personality make total sense. I loved how Jessie took what was in the myth and was not afraid to add details to it to give it additional layers of depth that really made the character stand out and truly become his own person. For the myth, he is fine as is, but in a book I wondered how someone could make him worth wanting Psyche to be with outside of "Well, duh! He's Eros!". That, by itself, is just not good enough. Especially in YA fiction. Fortunately that's not what we got here.

The Romance:

I'm not sure how familiar all of you are with the myth's origins, but essentially Eros (Cupid, for anyone who's sitting here totally lost) is the god of love, while Psyche becomes a goddess of soul mates. Their myth actually parallels the values of each of their specific duties as a deity, and shows the dangers and values of each. The fact that the two unite by the end, *creating* the goddess who presides over actual, really 'true' loyal love, is not an accident.

With that in mind, I really wanted to see how these two would fall in love and how they would not let the mistakes that others -- and they themselves -- put in front of them would not keep them from being together. Jessie made them earn it, which is as it should be, and I was cheering for them pretty much every step of the way. The fact that we get such a rich look at what happens before the traditional myth begins let me really get a feel for them on their own and made me able to see why they should be together, which was something I was definitely hoping would be addressed.

In General:

Destined was absolutely fantastic and I am thrilled that I had the chance to read it. I vividly recall wishing that there were books like this when I originally discovered Greek Mythology. I think I was 13 or 14 at the time? I fell head over heels for the characters of the myths, but I always wanted more of them, more from them, more about them. I wanted to see them come fully alive. That's what I feel Jessie Harrell has accomplished here.

Whether you're obsessed with mythology, looking for a great love story, or perhaps a bit of both, you really can't go wrong with Destined. I'm not a Pythia, but I've got a pretty good feeling that the future for this talented author looks very bright indeed.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars


A beautiful mortal beloved by Greece, cursed by a goddess , adored by a god and the slip of an enchanted arrow that initiates an epic romance. So begins the story of Psyche.



Psyche, a young Grecian princess whose beauty rivals that of the legendary Helen of Troy, has the good fortune, or perhaps great misfortune, of being noticed by the goddess Aphrodite. When Aphrodite suddenly claims Psyche as her daughter among mortals, she requests only one thing of Psyche in return for this great honor – to marry Aphrodite’s mischievous, womanizing son, Eros. Both Eros and Psyche are taken aback by this request and each offended by the other, refuse the goddess’s demand. Angered by their refusal, Aphrodite curses Psyche to fall in love with a hideous monster and orders Eros to carry out her punishment, setting in motion a chain of events – betrayal, deceit, tragedy, romance – that unfolds in ways Psyche and Eros never expected.



Harrell has done an excellent job of honoring this beloved myth and remaining true to the basic plot of the original story, while at the same time putting her own unique spin on it. Using a modern vernacular and a heroine with more modern sensibilities, she has successfully updated Psyche & Eros for a 21st century, young adult audience while still keeping her story set in it’s originally intended time period. Typically, I am not a fan of period stories that sound too modern, or that seem unauthentic in historical context. With the Psyche myth in particular, it’s a question of how to make it relevant to today’s YA audience without taking the myth out of it’s historical or cultural context. If the myth of Psyche was brought into a more modern setting, the situations and actions of the characters most assuredly would not translate well. Leaving Destined in the time period it was written, Harrell has brilliantly blended the past and the present – modernizing the story just enough through her characters and dialogue – but leaving it in a context in which the story still makes sense.



Several generations after the Helen of Troy debacle, Psyche innocently agrees to sit for a portrait, not knowing that her face would become instantly famous and beloved by all of Greece – her fame also drawing the notice of Olympus. Psyche should find all the attention exhilarating but she soon feels trapped, a prisoner in her own home, her anonymity gone. Her feelings – relayed to the reader through a first person point of view – about her new-found fame and her uncertain future make her a very relatable character. Though now a celebrity, Psyche never lets her new status influence her character for the worst. She’s an incredibly grounded young woman who’s fiercely independent, extremely intelligent, insatiably curious, a bit rash, stubborn, and proud – yet humble enough to admit her mistakes. She is a young woman trapped by fate, yet strong enough to accept her destiny, whatever that may be.



Eros’s character was a pleasant surprise and I wasn’t expecting to like him as much as I did. In reading Greek mythology, I’ve come to have a complete sympathy for the mortals in the stories. Often a victim of the gods’ wrath or petty jealousy, human lives are tragically altered time and time again usually for something as small as a perceived slight, a desire to protect one’s well-being, the love of another, etc. – things that we today would consider small offenses or even reasonable motivations. To my 21st century mindset, the humans in myth are often unjustifiably punished and the gods appear as petty, vindictive and fallible while wielding unimaginable power. Incredibly powerful AND fallible? Not an inspiring combination. In addition to all the less-than-ideal qualities I’ve listed above, the gods also aren’t particularly known for their romantic fidelity either. So even though he bears the title “god of love,” I was understandably curious as to how Harrell would convince me, the reader, to fall in love with Eros. However, as she developed his character, Harrell convinced me that Eros might just be worthy of Psyche. While Eros was mischievous and arrogant, at times he allowed himself to feel genuine sympathy, and to consider how mortals would be affected by certain actions. Though always a god and everything that entails, he was willing to acknowledge the value of human beings and didn’t just view them as mere playthings. He showed a great capacity for kindness throughout the book, and this is ultimately what won me over to Team Eros.



The evolution of the relationship between Psyche and Eros is really the central part of this myth and the driving force behind the plot. I loved how Harrell developed them both individually as characters and how she developed their romance as well. It is sweet, it is passionate and at times it is oh-so-heartbreaking. But above all, the thing I loved most, was that they had a genuine, believable connection that made me root for them and hope that even though their relationship defies their individual fates, that somehow they will be able to find happiness with each other.



Overall, with fantastic modernized characters and adding her own unique tweaks to the original myth, Destined by Jessie Harrell is a smartly updated and incredibly romantic retelling of Cupid & Psyche that made me fall in love with this myth all over again. This is a book I’ve been highly anticipating for some time, and let me assure you, it was totally worth the wait.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destined by Jessie Harrell
Pages: 260
Publisher: Mae Day Publishing
Genre: YA Greek Mythology Retelling

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

The characters. With any retelling, the challenge for the writer is to take these characters that someone else created long ago and to give them a new life. Jessie Harrell did just that with the characters in Destined, which are the Greek gods and goddesses of old, and one young mortal girl named Psyche. I loved the way the gods and goddesses were portrayed, and how each of their distinct personalities shown through, even the minor characters like Hermes, Persephone, Charon, and Demeter. There were several characters, though, that stood out.

Eros. When we first meet Eros, he's a bit of a haughty bad boy, with an 'I'm cooler because I'm immortal' attitude and who goes to parties with the Greek god Dionysus-- and let's just say Dio is drunken trouble. But when he falls in love with Psyche, he becomes a different person. He is the god of love after all, and that side comes out. His romantic side was so sexy, even though I feel that he did come on pretty strong to Psyche. Honestly, the easiest way to push a girl away is to tell her you love her the first time you meet. But, he did what he had to in order to keep Psyche safe from his mother, the goddess of love Aphrodite, and her wrath.

Psyche. I really liked Psyche from the very beginning, because even though everyone glorified her as the most beautiful woman in the world, she didn't let that get to her head, and stayed really humble. Everything she did, she always did it for the best interest of others. Towards the end of the novel, when everything has gone downhill and she has to fight to get everything back, she doesn't back down.

Writing style & voice. The novel is set in ancient Greece, but it's written with a modern voice, which is what made it so easy to relate to, I think. When things are written with a more archaic voice, there's a certain detachment that us as readers automatically get because we don't speak that way, but Psyche spoke just like an regular teenage girl from today would. Plus, the novel is told from the dual perspective of Pysche, of course, and Eros as well. This helped us get both sides of the story and not hate Eros for some of the things he does, like we probably would if we didn't understand his reasoning behind what he does.


The insta-love. The only problem I had with Destined is that I felt like Psyche gave in way too quickly to Eros/Aris. She started softening towards him rather quickly. If I were in her position, I know for a fact that it would've taken weeks for me to even let him put a hand on my shoulder. I understand that, for the sake of length, it can't take weeks, but at least more than 5 or 6 days. If Psyche and Eros's love could've grown more over a longer period of time, I think it would've made the ending much more poignant.

Overall, I really loved Destined! Greek mythology is one of my favorite things to read about, and Jessie Harrell did a fantastic job giving Eros and Psyche her own unique twist. I'm very eager to read more of her work, definitely some more Greek retellings--- next time, Hades and Persephone, perhaps? :) 5 out of 5 stars. 

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Fragments of Life.

Eversince Greek mythology retellings started to conquer the YA world, I’ve read many Hades/Persephone retellings. But what I was really waiting for was a Cupid and Psyche retelling that will take me back to Olympian-ruled-Greece. Finally, it has arrived!

Psyche was a princess, the most beautiful girl in Greece and Aphrodite’s daughter after Helen. As the crowds starting rolling in just to see her face, she couldn’t help but shrink back against all the attention. She wanted normalcy – something that was not fated for her. Soon, her parents started calling in suitors for her and her sister, Chara while their bride price was at its peak. Shocked and unprepared, Psyche dreaded every arrival of a suitor at her palace.

Psyche’s life was not coated in sugar. It just had a sweet, sweet icing. But underneath that was a layer of solitude, disconnection and a problematic state. The most beautiful girl in Greece had her problems too and they usually involved angered goddesses, prophecies and curses. I love how Harrell bared Psyche. I saw her imperfection, her vulnerability and her recklessness. But aside from that, she was also beautiful inside and out.

Harrell’s twist on the Cupid and Psyche mythology was perfect for me. The story was retained but the author altered parts of it and gave readers a whole new reason to love this romantic tale. The writing was of the refreshing kind. Harrell had a knack for storytelling. I was enticed, drawn into the story and unwilling to let go of Destined even in the wee hours of the morning.

Eros aka Cupid, was a captivating god. He had the mischief of Puck (The Iron Fey), the charm and good looks of Lend (Paranormalcy) and Sam (The Wolves of Mercy Falls), the devotion of Ash (The Iron Fey) and the passion of Ren (Tiger’s Curse). He was a determined, honest and passionate lover, pursuing and caring for Psyche without using his arrow on her.

I knew how the original story went but I never got bored with Destined. The characters were not simply borrowed. They were clothed with new personalities and they were well-developed. Aside from Psyche and Eros, all of these characters were not present throughout the entire book. But they made an impact nonetheless. Rasmus, the young prince who went to Psyche’s palace to take a bride home, was most interesting. He was the charming-geeky-mysterious-type. Chara, Psyche’s sister was more complex than the others. She loved Psyche as a sister but after Psyche was proclaimed as Aphrodite’s daughter, their relationship went downhill.

Psyche’s needed to pass tests in order to be worthy to talk to Eros again. This was the fun and exciting part. I was cheering Psyche all the while, urging her to make it. Through her ‘journey,’ she met a couple of immortals and encountered a handful of danger, she was unlike the many strong heroines of other novels but she steeled herself and pushed through with her plan.

Told in alternating perspectives of Eros and Psyche, Destined unravels the lives of both lovers. This was the first time that I ever read anything about Eros. It was exciting to find out about his life, his past and his thoughts.

Destined is my favorite Greek/Roman retelling of the year! It’s a journey of love, sacrifices, pain, hope and redemption. Unforgettable, consuming, heartbreakingly and painfully romantic with a sprinkle of cuteness and sweetness here and there, Destined is the perfect read for Greek-myth readers and romance readers.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are a few spoilers ahead, though not really if you already know the Psyche/Eros myth.

I have been trying really, really hard to finish this, since Psyche and Eros is my other favorite Greek myth. But, as Meg Cabot butchered the Persephone/Hades myth with Abandon, so it is with Harrell and Destined. Unlike Cabot, however, Harrell doesn't even try to reinvent the myth. There is nothing fresh or new brought to the table here, unless you count a modern way of speaking, which just comes off as odd in an Ancient Greece-style setting.

I'm confused about why Eros fell in love with Psyche. He did nick himself with his own arrow, but then he goes on about her goodness and heart and says he loves her every other line or so. He actually says, "The depth of your heart is what drew me to you," which would be fine, except there is nothing in the text to suggest Psyche has any heart. I mean, she's not off doing charity or anything. All she does is stand at her window while people admire her, moan about having to marry, mouth off to suitors, etc.

When she goes off to live with Eros (not knowing it's him, of course), she doesn't get any more likable. Eros appears to her as a black cloud with eyes. She starts falling for him (presumably because he fawns all over her and they share a couple of good kisses). She can't seem to decide whether he's hot or a monster beneath the shroud that serves to disguise his identity. It just depends on who's trying to convince her of what. At one point she says she knows "flawless features" are hiding beneath the shroud, though how she comes to this conclusion I have no idea. Later she says his face is "perfect-feeling." What, exactly, does perfect feel like, I wonder? Then she calls his shroud a "black mask of perfection" and I was just like . . . um, what? He's a cloud with eyes, for crying out loud. Then he goes back to being a "grotesque monster", which apparently is the only alternative to perfect and beautiful.

The reason Psyche decides Eros is a monster again is because her sister came for a visit and talked some shit (because she was bitter, it turns out). She now knows Eros is a monster, and her evidence amounts to nothing more than her sister convincing her the prophecy that led her to this place was right, even though Psyche already knew the prophecy to begin with. So, of course, Psyche decides to kill Eros. Good thinking. Anyway, when her plan goes awry and Eros realizes what she tried to do, he starts blaming her and acting all high and mighty, even though he's the creep who jumped through all sorts of hoops in order to get her to the palace, where he basically holds her captive. He really just comes off as a controlling freak whose love seems more like creepy obsession.

Aside from that, there seemed to be some format errors in the ebook, as well as obvious misspellings (definately, solice, errupt, and "insights gossip"). There were other issues too, minor ones that I don't even feel like dissecting here. The one good thing I can say about this book is that I only paid $0.99 for it. Too bad it wasn't free.

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Destined
Author: Jessie Harrell
Genre: YA Romance/Mythology
Grade/Rating: 4 out of 5

Destined is a modern take on the mythological story of Psyche & Eros (Cupid). You may have seen the famous sculpture by Antonio Canova, which depicts Cupid holding his beloved Psyche tenderly as she awakens from a deep sleep. Canova was inspired from the novel Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass) by Latin author Apuleius, as was our dear author, Jessie Harrell.

You may know Cupid (Eros) as the god of love, the baby with a diaper and wings holding an arrow to make people fall in love. BUT did you know he was also in love himself? AND that he was married!? Well, that’s what this story is about.

You see, Eros had his own great love story with the mortal Psyche. There are many versions of their romance, but the one thing that is agreed upon is that they had many obstacles to overcome to finally be together eternally, including Eros’s mother. In the Roman version his mother is Venus and in the Greek, Aphrodite–both goddesses of love. Legend has it Eros’s mother became so jealous of the beautiful Psyche that she told her son to cast a spell that would make her unable to marry! How rude! And so begins the story of how Eros and Psyche find their way to happiness.

Jessie Harrell’s novel touches upon all of these facts and mixes in her own ideas to create a wonderful story that will capture your heart! Even though this book is about Greek gods and immortals, this novel isn’t your typical history lesson! Harrell did a great job making these characters resemble people we may know in real life and personifying them in modern ways, including the way they speak and act. There are also little things, like the cheesecake in the story, and certain details that you will be surprised were truly part of those times! The main characters were your typical teenagers/young adults who find true love in a sweet way. Their story has a positive message, fighting for what you believe in and following your heart. Although Psyche is torn between what others tell her and how she truly feels, she chooses to follow her instincts and trust Eros.

Harrell made this old and not-so-fun-to-study-in-school story appealing to everyone. It was a joy to read and very different from what we’ve known before. Though others might not like minor changes in the story, Harrell made this tale her own. It’s a wonderful read, and I recommend it those who appreciate art, mythology, and anything creative! If you’re one of those I described, then go get your copy because “you cannot escape what is destined” Go now!

Buy your copy of Destined by Jessie Harrell NOW!

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars


I am a huge sucker for a well written Greek mythology re-telling, and Destined delivers a story that's engaging, witty, fast paced and fun. This is a story that I feel isn't as well known as the other, and I really enjoyed Jessie's unique re-telling of Cupid and Psyche's mythology! I've not read a story that centered on Eros before and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's an exciting blend of romance, passion, and there's an enticing character chemistry between Eros and Psyche that kept me turning the pages.

I adored the characters. Eros and Psyche are both flawed, yet strong characters. They start off not wanting anything to do with each other, but end up falling for each other in such a natural way. I loved how the two of them earned each other's love. I loved how determined both were about earning the other's love. Eros is the one that surprised me the most. He's so passionate, honest and when he could have easily forced Psyche to love him, he gave her the choice, though she didn't stand much of a chance in telling him no after all he does for her. Psyche herself is not just a beautiful person on the outside, but inside. She herself just wants to be loved for who she is, and surprisingly finds that in someone she first despised. One of the things I really admired about both characters is the fact they own up to their flaws and mistakes, and don't make excuses for them. They both do some stupid things, but in trying to correct their mistakes they earn admiration and respect from each other. I really adored their love story *sigh*

This story wouldn't be complete with out a bit of a betrayal and of course jealousy. The betrayal in this story was fabulous! Jessie did such a great job at creating a love story about an act of betrayal. The jealously that stems of this was written perfectly into the story. I'll admit, I didn't see that one coming, though I should have. I really enjoyed the way in which Jessie revealed pieces of information at all the right times. It made the story flow so well and kept me completely invested in what was going to happen next. Destined is rich in details, character development, mythology and has a well thought out plot line that left me wanting more. I loved that the story is told in alternating points of view between Psyche and Eros. There's plenty of romance along with heartbreak, pain, hope, love, passion and redemption within in the pages of this story. I think fans of Greek mythology will really love this well written, unforgettable story. It's a clean cut, must have read that I highly recommend picking it up!

[Aliki · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ΑΣΤΕΡΑΚΙΑ? ΓΙΑΤΙ ?ΠΩΣ?ΤΙ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ?


ΣΑΣ ΖΗΤΩ ΕΚ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΤΕΡΩΝ ΝΑ ΜΕ ΣΥΝΧΩΡΕΣΕΤΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΑΡΑΠΛΑΝΗΣΗ ΑΥΤΗ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΤΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΕΠΙΒΑΛΛΕΤΑΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΕΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΥΡΑ,ΝΑ ΘΑΦΤΕΙ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΙΟ ΒΑΘΥ ΛΑΚΚΟ ,ΝΑ ΣΤΑΛΕΙ ΣΕ ΕΝΑΝ ΑΠΟΜΑΚΡΥΣΜΕΝΟ ΠΛΑΝΗΤΗ.
5 ΑΣΤΕΡΑΚΙΑ ΛΟΙΠΟΝ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΚΕΝΤΡΙΣΩ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ ΣΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΣΑΣ ΑΠΟΤΡΕΨΩ ΜΕΣΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΑ ΠΟΥ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΟΥΝ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΕΤΕ ΤΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΠΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΒΑΛΛΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΝΟΗΜΟΣΥΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΦΑΝΤΑΣΙΑ.
ΝΑ ΣΑΣ ΠΩ ΟΤΙ ΑΡΧΙΣΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΗ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΑΘΕΣΕΩΝ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΓΟΗΤΕΥΤΙΚΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΜΑΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ.ΞΕΣΚΟΝΙΖΩ ΛΟΙΠΟΝ ΤΙΣ ΜΝΗΜΕΣ ΜΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΥΘΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΜΕΣΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ GOOGLE ΚΑΙ ΞΕΚΙΝΩ.ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΠΡΩΤΕΣ 30 ΣΕΛΙΔΕΣ ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΑΙΝΩ ΟΤΙ ΚΑΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΠΑΕΙ ΚΑΛΑ ,ΤΟ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΥΠΟΤΙΘΕΜΕΝΟΙ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΕΣ ΔΕΝ ΤΑΙΡΙΑΖΟΥΝ.ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΩ.ΑΡΧΙΖΩ ΚΑΙ ΔΥΣΑΝΑΣΧΕΤΟ.ΜΕΧΡΙ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΩ ΤΟ ΡΗΜΑΔΙ ΕΝΝΟΙΩΘΑ ΣΑΝ ΚΑΤΑΡΑΜΕΝΟΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΚΟΛΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΑΝΤΗ ΚΑΘΩΣ ΑΚΟΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΙΑ ΠΙΝΑΚΙΔΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΤΟΠ ΣΤΟ ΔΡΟΜΟ ΕΙΧΕ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΟ ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΟΝ

ΠΡΩΤΟ ΣΤΟΥΜΠ-ΤΟΠΟΘΕΣΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΧΡΟΝΟΣ


ΝΑΙ ΜΕΝ ΤΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΕΞΕΛΙΣΣΕΤΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΑ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΟΙ ΗΡΩΕΣ ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΦΕΡΟΝΤΑΙ ΜΕ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΑ ΠΡΟΤΥΠΑ..Η ΨΥΧΗ ΔΙΑΒΑΖΕΙ ΠΑΠΥΡΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΧΕΙ ΠΑΝΩ ΣΕΝΑ ΞΥΛΙΝΟ ΡΑΦΙ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΟ ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΑΠΟ ΜΑΡΜΑΡΟ ΠΑΛΑΤΙ......ΟΡΙΣΤΕ?ΑΝΤΕ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΚΑΤΑΠΙΩ ΑΥΤΟ ΟΜΩΣ ΑΡΓΟΤΕΡΑ Ο ΕΡΩΤΑΣ ΤΗΝ ΤΑΙΖΕΙ ΣΟΚΑΛΟΤΟΚΕΙΚ ΑΦΟΥ ΠΡΩΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΣΕΡΒΙΡΕΙ ΤΟ ΠΡΩΙΝΟ ΤΟΣΤ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑΡΙΑ...ΑΝ ΕΧΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΘΕΟ ΣΟΥ ΑΚΟΥ ΤΟΣΤ ΑΦΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΕΒΛΕΠΕ ΚΑΙ CNN ΣΕ ΚΑΜΙΑ ΜΑΡΜΑΡΙΝΗ ΦΛΑΤ ΤΗΛΕΟΡΑΣΗ ΠΑΛΙ ΚΑΛΑ

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟ ΣΤΟΥΜΠ-ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΕΣ


ΨΥΧΗ -ΚΑΚΟΜΑΘΗΜΕΝΟ ΠΛΟΥΣΙΟΚΟΡΙΤΣΟ ΧΑΜΗΛΗΣ ΝΟΗΜΟΣΥΝΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΤΑΘΟΥΣ ΣΥΝΑΙΣΘΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗΣ.ΤΩΡΑ ΑΓΑΠΩ ΜΕΤΑ ΔΕΝ ΑΓΑΠΩ.ΜΕ ΝΟΙΑΖΕΙ ΔΕΝ ΜΕ ΝΟΙΑΖΕΙ.
ΕΡΩΤΑΣ-ΤΟ ΚΟΛΩΠΑΙΔΟ ΤΟΥ ΟΛΥΜΠΟΥ ΠΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙ Α��ΟΓΑΛΑΚΤΗΣΤΕΙ ΑΚΟΜΗ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΜΑΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΝΕΙ ΟΤΙ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΥΝ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΕΙΛΗ ΟΤΙ ΘΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΡΟΥΝ ΤΑ ΒΕΛΗ.
ΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗ-ΜΙΑ ΕΓΩΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΗ ΧΑΖΗ ΠΟΥ ΑΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΓΥΡΩ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΥ ΣΤΟ ΤΕΛΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΠΟΙΕΙΤΑΙ..ΜΟΝΟ ΤΣΙΧΛΑ ΠΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΤΗΝ ΕΧΕΙ ΒΑΛΕΙ ΝΑ ΜΑΣΑΕΙ
ΜΕΣΑ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΖΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΟΥΣ ΘΕΟΥΣ ΑΛΛΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΧΡΗΣΙΜΟΠΟΙΕΙ ΩΣ ΣΚΗΝΗΚΑ

ΣΤΟΥΜΠ ΤΡΙΤΟ-ΔΙΑΛΟΓΟΙ.
ΒΡΕΦΙΚΟΙ ΔΙΑΛΟΓΟΙ ΚΑΚΟΓΡΑΜΜΕΝΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΑΠΛΑ ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΝ.ΤΑ ΦΩΤΟΡΟΜΑΤΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΜΑΣ ΕΚΕΙΝΑ ΜΕ ΤΑ ΣΥΝΝΕΦΑΚΙΑ ΕΧΟΥΝ ΠΙΟ ΠΟΛΛΕΣ ΛΕΞΕΙΣ

ΣΤΟΥΜΠ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΟ-ΔΡΑΣΗ.
ΟΡΙΣΤΕ?ΕΙΠΑ ΔΡΑΣΗ?ΑΑΑ ΔΕΝ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ... ΠΙΟ ΠΟΛΥ ΑΓΩΝΙΑ ΕΝΟΙΩΣΑ ΟΤΑΝ ΔΙΑΒΑΖΑ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΣΤΟ GOOGLE.ΕΝΑ ΑΠΛΟ ΚΑΡΕ ΚΙΝΗΣΕΩΝ ΧΩΡΙΣ ΝΑ ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΗ ΜΕΤΑΞΥ ΤΟΥΣ..ΤΟΥΠ ΤΟΥΠ ΤΟΥΠ ΠΕΦΤΩ ΤΟΥΠ ΤΟΥΠ ΧΤΥΠΗΣΑ ΤΟ ΠΟΔΑΡΑΚΙ ΑΟΥΤΣ ...ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΩ

ΟΠΩΣ ΕΓΙΝΕ ΣΑΦΕΣ ΤΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΔΕΝ ΜΟΥ ΑΡΕΣΕ .ΤΟ ΣΥΧΑΘΗΚΑ ΜΠΛΙΑΧ ...ΟΡΚΙΖΟΜΑΙ ΣΤΟΥΣ 12 ΘΕΟΥΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΑΛΛΑΧ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΤΑΠΕΡ ΟΤΙ ΕΑΝ ΔΕΝ ΜΟΥ ΑΡΕΣΕΙ ΕΝΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΩ .ΘΑ ΤΟ ΠΑΡΑΤΑΩ .ΔΕΝ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΝΤΡΟΠΗ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΩ ΧΑΠΙΑ ΝΑ ΧΤΥΠΑΩ ΤΟ ΚΕΦΑΛΙ ΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΤΣΙΡΙΖΩ ...

[Megan (magan bagan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this debut novel because it contained two of my favorite things. It has beautiful cover and is about one of my favorite Greek mythologies.

Psyche is the most beautiful girl in Greece, men from all over come to stand outside her window just get a glimpse of her. But when Psyche angers Aphrodite, the goddess of love, nothing will go according to plan.

A prophecy of her future paints a dim picture, life with a creature even the gods fear, and she has to decide if she can live with it. With doubts looming in her head, Psyche has to prove to herself, and others, that somethings are worth the risk. Will she be able to fulfill her destiny?

Greek mythology has become one of my absolute favorites to read about, so when I found this I couldn't not read it. Jessie's fresh look at the young lovers was beautiful and heart clenching at times, drawing me in to their story.

Psyche and Eros are both strong and stubborn characters that still had a lot to learn. I loved watching their growth and realization of what it meant to truly love someone. The test and trials to prove their worth of one another, as well as to each other, were just right for a Greek myth. And the descriptions throughout were beautiful and clear, offering insight into their world.

The intermingling and use of the other gods and goddess truly made the story seem like a modern telling of a Greek myth. I wanted more and hated for it to end. It was clear that, though Jessie gave this story her own twist, she still did her research and got the culture and stories of ancient Greece correct.

Jessie did a great job with her debut novel and I definitely want to read more from her.

[Amber at Fall Into Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was okay. Maybe I am too old for it, but the 21st century speak in Ancient Greece really irritated me. It was hard for me to stay in the story because of that. It could be the fact that I'm a history major, or it could be that so many authors retell Greek myths and have done it better, but I was not in any way blown away by this book.


Psyche is a bit whiny, and she yells a lot. That's obnoxious. Eros is the most redeeming character because he is an arrogant bad boy, and I do love a bad boy. That being said, I don't like how the author deviated from the original story of Psyche and Eros. All of the characters are flawed, but not so much that I couldn't stand them. That is standard for Greek myths, at least. The novel is suspenseful and will keep you guessing. I honestly would have given it a higher rating if it had been told as a present-day Psyche and Eros story. I could have dealt with that better than the 21st century colloquialisms in Ancient Greece. It took me about 15-20 minutes to get focused again after one character said, "crap!" So that is my major problem with this story.


However, for a self-published novel, the writing quality is top notch. I will definitely read other books by Jessie Harrell in the future. I just hope she leaves the myths alone. I would recommend this book to people who are not familiar with Greek mythology and to teenagers who prefer the 21st century mode of speaking regardless of the situation. I think that those groups would really enjoy it, but since I'm a history major and a stickler for language, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

Check out other reviews, along with giveaways, author interviews, and more over at http://falln2books.blogspot.com

[Megan Curd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destined is a fast, fun read that anyone who is a fan of mythological retellings will enjoy. Like paranormal romance? This one's for you, too. :) I really enjoyed this book, and Jessie did a great job of keeping me wanting to turn the pages.

THE GOOD:
Ms. Harrell's writing is easy, fun, and contemporary. You never have to worry about not understanding her writing - she put this book it a teen's voice from today and it was great! I've read some reviews that scoff at the non-traditional Greek dialogue, but here's the thing - Harrell made this HERS, and I liked it. If it would have been all old language and what not, I probably would have given up on it. I liked her twist on things and I never felt that her personal touches took away from the story. Instead, I feel it made the book that much better. Her characters were fun and I enjoyed embracing them. Psyche was so much fun to watch, and Eros - gods love him - was a typical guy. I love that while they're gods and demi-gods, Harrell made them feel very real and very human. Hopefully I don't get struck down for saying that. :)

THE BAD:
There were times that I felt details or comparisons were forced, but it was only once or twice. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book.

OVERALL:
This was a fun read! I have a son that takes up most of my attention, but this book diverted me a bit. :) It was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone, and I can't wait to read more from Harrell. I have a feeling we've only scratched the surface of her abilities!

*For more reviews, please visit Musings of a Write-Aholic*