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Greek Myths #2
Shimmering Splendor
A romantic retelling of an ancient Greek myth finds Psyche and Eros struggling against the vengeful goddess Aphrodite to preserve their forbidden love and Psyche's earthly life.
413 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
12 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Gellis
57 books183 followersRoberta Gellis has been one of the most successful writers of historical fiction of the last few decades, having published about 25 meticulously researched historical novels since 1964. She was married to her husband Charles for over 50 years and they lived together in Lafayette, Indiana with a lively Lakeland terrier called Taffy. She has one child called Mark.
Her page at the Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
Her page at the Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2017
I am not sure how she does it, but Roberta Gellis is one author that manages to write the most cringey, annoying, TSTL, flat, obnoxious, and downright repellent characters in every book of hers I've picked up. It's probably her style, because I've not to date found anything deviating from this norm, and I've tried several of her books to get a general overview of her writing. Enough to say this is the last book by her I'm reading.
The thing that broke this camel's back was her treatment of the heroine in this novel, that pretends to retell the Greco-Roman legend of Eros and Psyche, the god of love and the mortal maiden he falls for, that came to us by way of Lucius Apuleius' recounting it in his book The Golden Ass. Whoever read it, or the chapter excerpt telling the legend that can be found online, knows that Psyche is the sweetest, least bitter, least embittered and quite loving girl, that's never changed by adversity and is willing to go on quests and face tests thrown at her by petty divinities. It's this personality what gets Eros, who is as different to her as to be her opposite, and the contrast between their characters playing off each other is what makes for the story's core, illustrating the tale's metaphor on the union of body (Eros) and soul (Psyche) being conducive to fulfilment.
And Gellis messed it up. Psyche is completely unrecognisable in this book, and Eros... every time I recall a certain problematic line, wincing is my reflex reaction. And the storytelling doesn't make up for the cardboard, recycled characterisation (can't differentiate these characters from those of her other novels), because although Gellis has followed the legend's barebones plot, she's not been able to capture the time or give the impression that this was Ancient Greece. It could be taken for a contemporary run-of-the-mill romance perfectly if you deleted the names of the gods and mortals from the legend and gave them modern names. Call Aphrodite something like Virginia, call Eros something like John or Thomas, call Psyche something like Kimberly or Carly, and you've got a modern romance, complete with cringe-worthy dialogue in parts. Bah.
The thing that broke this camel's back was her treatment of the heroine in this novel, that pretends to retell the Greco-Roman legend of Eros and Psyche, the god of love and the mortal maiden he falls for, that came to us by way of Lucius Apuleius' recounting it in his book The Golden Ass. Whoever read it, or the chapter excerpt telling the legend that can be found online, knows that Psyche is the sweetest, least bitter, least embittered and quite loving girl, that's never changed by adversity and is willing to go on quests and face tests thrown at her by petty divinities. It's this personality what gets Eros, who is as different to her as to be her opposite, and the contrast between their characters playing off each other is what makes for the story's core, illustrating the tale's metaphor on the union of body (Eros) and soul (Psyche) being conducive to fulfilment.
And Gellis messed it up. Psyche is completely unrecognisable in this book, and Eros... every time I recall a certain problematic line, wincing is my reflex reaction. And the storytelling doesn't make up for the cardboard, recycled characterisation (can't differentiate these characters from those of her other novels), because although Gellis has followed the legend's barebones plot, she's not been able to capture the time or give the impression that this was Ancient Greece. It could be taken for a contemporary run-of-the-mill romance perfectly if you deleted the names of the gods and mortals from the legend and gave them modern names. Call Aphrodite something like Virginia, call Eros something like John or Thomas, call Psyche something like Kimberly or Carly, and you've got a modern romance, complete with cringe-worthy dialogue in parts. Bah.
June 17, 2013
Psyche was a plain child who grew up to be a breathtakingly beautiful woman. SO stunning, suitors are swarming from every nearby kingdom, all swearing undying love for her, based entirely on her looks. This would seem like a nice problem to have, but the jealousy and rivalry threaten her father Anerios's kingdom, and the poor young woman can't even walk around her own home without being attacked by a would-be lover. Psyche declares she hates Love and Beauty, and Anerios closes the Temple of Aphrodite and forbids sacrifice to her.
As goddesses go, Aphrodite is fairly easy(going), but she can't allow the natives to publicly blow her off. Anerios and his proud daughter must be seen to be punished. She sends her friend Eros to handle it for her.
Eros has long had his own Issues. He, too, had lovers flinging themselves at his feet simply because of his looks, and even for a long-lived Mage, this got old. Then following the takeover of Olympus by Zeus and crew, Eros was punished by having a spell of revulsion set upon him, so that all who looked at him fled as fast as their vomiting would allow. This too has passed, and all that is left is a vast ennui, and a feeling of loyalty/gratitude towards Aphrodite, his one friend among the mages.
Eros's boredom departs when he sees Psyche; he, too, falls in love with her. After giving her father a short-lived but intense spell of unnatural love set upon a wrinkled old sow, Eros decides he will punish Psyche by marrying her to a monster. Himself, wearing a cloak of darkness, but the people of her family don't know this; even Psyche herself doesn't know.
As time passes, Psyche truly falls in love with Eros, posing as Teras, though she has never seen his face. When he seems to doubt her love, she believes if she can find a way to dispel the cloak of darkness, look upon the monster and still embrace him with love, then surely Teras will believe she loves him.
It's an interesting take on the old myth, and the details are fun, like the little boys and girls waiting upon Aphrodite as a source of cherubs. Psyche's family is supportive, yet not without petty jealousy and conflicts, too. The humor is rich; the scenes where Anerios was weeping for love of the sow were hilarious. Psyche is a strong, courageous heroine; Eros an interesting hero, challenged with the problem of having to win the love of a woman for the first time in his long life WITHOUT his looks being a factor.
As goddesses go, Aphrodite is fairly easy(going), but she can't allow the natives to publicly blow her off. Anerios and his proud daughter must be seen to be punished. She sends her friend Eros to handle it for her.
Eros has long had his own Issues. He, too, had lovers flinging themselves at his feet simply because of his looks, and even for a long-lived Mage, this got old. Then following the takeover of Olympus by Zeus and crew, Eros was punished by having a spell of revulsion set upon him, so that all who looked at him fled as fast as their vomiting would allow. This too has passed, and all that is left is a vast ennui, and a feeling of loyalty/gratitude towards Aphrodite, his one friend among the mages.
Eros's boredom departs when he sees Psyche; he, too, falls in love with her. After giving her father a short-lived but intense spell of unnatural love set upon a wrinkled old sow, Eros decides he will punish Psyche by marrying her to a monster. Himself, wearing a cloak of darkness, but the people of her family don't know this; even Psyche herself doesn't know.
As time passes, Psyche truly falls in love with Eros, posing as Teras, though she has never seen his face. When he seems to doubt her love, she believes if she can find a way to dispel the cloak of darkness, look upon the monster and still embrace him with love, then surely Teras will believe she loves him.
It's an interesting take on the old myth, and the details are fun, like the little boys and girls waiting upon Aphrodite as a source of cherubs. Psyche's family is supportive, yet not without petty jealousy and conflicts, too. The humor is rich; the scenes where Anerios was weeping for love of the sow were hilarious. Psyche is a strong, courageous heroine; Eros an interesting hero, challenged with the problem of having to win the love of a woman for the first time in his long life WITHOUT his looks being a factor.
November 1, 2024
the eros and psyche adaptation i never knew i needed. eros threatens to kill himself every thirty seconds which is hysterically funny for reasons i don't feel like sharing in a goodreads review. a great display of the end of the honeymoon phase when most romance novels stop there. both characters are fully fleshed out and compelling voices and there is a plot that i actually cared about beyond their getting together. the author kept referring to psyche's... uh... as "her nether mouth" but i'm not mad about it. the ending implies a sort of strange nonsexual threesomehood with aphrodite that i don't necessarily love but makes sense. i should read more 80s romance novels
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2015
i have read it over and over
January 26, 2017
Hay cosas muy importantes muy mal llevadas.
May 13, 2019
I love when Roberta Gellis retells the greek myths. Some of the best romance out there.
July 19, 2021
Loved this book. Love Greek mythology. I love her writing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews