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scarletohhara's review
1.0
Extremely mediocre style of writing about a story that is not even original, this book is no where even closer to Twilight, which I still consider to be the lowliest of books and literature (the only saving grace of the Twilight is its first book, in spite of all its shortcomings).
This book is like a Bollywood potbroiler, with all the drama elements in it, and a terrible story telling mode.
Sappy to the core, beaten to death plot , extremely predictable pedicaments in the book, this one is an example of what book to not read.
I could've easily given this book half a star, the rest of the half is for the fact that this is an easy read. But then, why would it not be. You obviously dont need brains to process this one out!
This book is like a Bollywood potbroiler, with all the drama elements in it, and a terrible story telling mode.
Sappy to the core, beaten to death plot , extremely predictable pedicaments in the book, this one is an example of what book to not read.
I could've easily given this book half a star, the rest of the half is for the fact that this is an easy read. But then, why would it not be. You obviously dont need brains to process this one out!
bookishvice's review
5.0
A fantastic retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth. Destined will leave your heart racing with the chemistry between these two characters. Fans of Greek Mythology, and beautiful and romantic love stories will want to read this!
Psyche is a fiery young girl, who has been blessed with beauty. So much so that she has caught Aphrodite’s attention. As with all gods and goddesses, Psyche knows she has to be wary of Aphrodite’s intentions. When gods get interested in the affairs of men, things don’t go well. And that’s exactly what happens to Psyche after she angers the goddess by refusing to marry her son Eros. After a terrible misunderstanding Psyche will have to call on the gods for help, face an enraged goddess, and descend to the bowels of the underworld fighting for the love of her life.
Stubborn, caring, and extremely fun, Psyche is such an amazing character to read. Ooooh and boy does she have attitude. I think that’s why Eros refuses her at first, because she doesn’t take any crap from him. Like Psyche, I love/hated Eros. He’s supposed to be a god of love and he is such a grump. Poor Psyche determines he’s ‘the biggest jerk’ she’s ever met after just five minutes with him. Then the whole arrow thing happens and you don’t know if it’s true love or if it’s just the magic driving him. But still, you can’t help but fall utterly and helplessly in love with him, as he tries to win Psyche’s love.
Then when all seems well in paradise, an incident happens and that’s what drives the second half of the book. However I didn’t get Psyche’s anger. I think she blew things out of proportion a bit. I mean, wishing for a friend’s death and planning a murder after a glimpse at what she thought was deceit. She should have confronted him first. But that’s the thing with all the Greek mythology stories, people take things too personally and act first, ask questions later. Eros does the same. Greek gods are all about vengeance and getting even forgiveness is not a word known in their vocabulary.
I could not put this book down! Psyche’s ‘modern’ voice was such fun to read in an ancient Greek setting. All the troubles and obstacles set between Psyche and Eros will keep you on edge, because all the time it can’t be any clearer that they’re meant for each other! So get your toga, get in the mood, and get ready to swoon beautifully with Jessie Harrell’s amazing debut.
Psyche is a fiery young girl, who has been blessed with beauty. So much so that she has caught Aphrodite’s attention. As with all gods and goddesses, Psyche knows she has to be wary of Aphrodite’s intentions. When gods get interested in the affairs of men, things don’t go well. And that’s exactly what happens to Psyche after she angers the goddess by refusing to marry her son Eros. After a terrible misunderstanding Psyche will have to call on the gods for help, face an enraged goddess, and descend to the bowels of the underworld fighting for the love of her life.
Stubborn, caring, and extremely fun, Psyche is such an amazing character to read. Ooooh and boy does she have attitude. I think that’s why Eros refuses her at first, because she doesn’t take any crap from him. Like Psyche, I love/hated Eros. He’s supposed to be a god of love and he is such a grump. Poor Psyche determines he’s ‘the biggest jerk’ she’s ever met after just five minutes with him. Then the whole arrow thing happens and you don’t know if it’s true love or if it’s just the magic driving him. But still, you can’t help but fall utterly and helplessly in love with him, as he tries to win Psyche’s love.
Then when all seems well in paradise, an incident happens and that’s what drives the second half of the book. However I didn’t get Psyche’s anger. I think she blew things out of proportion a bit. I mean, wishing for a friend’s death and planning a murder after a glimpse at what she thought was deceit. She should have confronted him first. But that’s the thing with all the Greek mythology stories, people take things too personally and act first, ask questions later. Eros does the same. Greek gods are all about vengeance and getting even forgiveness is not a word known in their vocabulary.
I could not put this book down! Psyche’s ‘modern’ voice was such fun to read in an ancient Greek setting. All the troubles and obstacles set between Psyche and Eros will keep you on edge, because all the time it can’t be any clearer that they’re meant for each other! So get your toga, get in the mood, and get ready to swoon beautifully with Jessie Harrell’s amazing debut.
sophilozophy's review
3.0
After sitting for a portrait, admirers from every corner of Greece have been coming to lay gifts at Psyche's feet in exchange for a glimpse of her beauty. She's been getting frequent visit from Aphrodite and doesn't understand why until she announces Psyche has been chosen to be her mortal daughter – something that is seen as a great honour to everyone, but Psyche. Having learned form her mistakes with Helen and Paris, Aphrodite chooses her son Eros to be Psyche's future husband. They take an instant dislike to one another and Psyche turns down Aphrodite's request, leaving her with the wrath of a powerful goddess. After her rejection, a prophecy reveals Psyche will fall in love with a creature even the god's fear. Is her future inevitable or can she escaped what is destined?
I love it when a book takes me by surprise! I'd heard of Cupid (Eros), but not Psyche and was very intrigued by the god of and love's story. Who'd deserve love more than him?
Psyche is a strong person and very easy to like. Being known for her beauty isn't important to her at all and more of an annoyance. She regrets having her a portrait done and would love everything to go back to how it use to be.
Eros comes across very arrogant at first with an superiority complex because he's a god – the reason Psyche instantly dislikes him. But when he start to fall for her, we see the real Eros and find out what he's hiding behind that bravado.
I enjoyed the story and how suspenseful it was. I never knew what direction the story would take. When it comes to books that retell a Greek myth, I'm always concerned that trying to keep the facts straight and modernizing something ancient will overshadowed the story being told. But the combination of great characters, beautifully depicted scenes and how well the flow of the story is, made that concern unnecessary.
Destined is a fantastic debut by Jessie Harrell. If you're a fan of Greek mythology, you'll love this unique, unpredictable and romantic retelling of Cupid and Psyche.
I love it when a book takes me by surprise! I'd heard of Cupid (Eros), but not Psyche and was very intrigued by the god of and love's story. Who'd deserve love more than him?
Psyche is a strong person and very easy to like. Being known for her beauty isn't important to her at all and more of an annoyance. She regrets having her a portrait done and would love everything to go back to how it use to be.
Eros comes across very arrogant at first with an superiority complex because he's a god – the reason Psyche instantly dislikes him. But when he start to fall for her, we see the real Eros and find out what he's hiding behind that bravado.
I enjoyed the story and how suspenseful it was. I never knew what direction the story would take. When it comes to books that retell a Greek myth, I'm always concerned that trying to keep the facts straight and modernizing something ancient will overshadowed the story being told. But the combination of great characters, beautifully depicted scenes and how well the flow of the story is, made that concern unnecessary.
Destined is a fantastic debut by Jessie Harrell. If you're a fan of Greek mythology, you'll love this unique, unpredictable and romantic retelling of Cupid and Psyche.
ashreads10k's review
5.0
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.
aggielexi's review
5.0
So AMAZING! I love Greek mythology, like I'm pretty positive I'm almost obsessed with it, and if I had the time I would just read myths all day long. This modern day take on Psyche and Cupid is definitely one of the best ones I have read. It takes place in ancient Greece but with the characters talking in modern day english. I can't say enough how good it was, read it!
purpl3_vix3n's review
5.0
I really liked this. I didn't understand what this book was about since it was lent to me on my kindle. But I was in love with it. Even though I don't know much about the GODs and such I thought it was good. Aros is the broading guy who hates the girl but then knicks himself with his own arrow but his mother took the love away and he didnt even know it. I'm a sucker for love stories.
clmzta83's review
2.0
Sometimes books try to take a new spin on a classic tale and it works. The writers breathe new life into tales and give them a modern twist. Destined tried and, unfortunately, just didn’t quite do it. I think had the writing been more in-tune to the story I wouldn’t have had such a problem with it. Unfortunately I feel like I missed out on so much because I was so focused on how the writing didn’t match the setting. I will say, however, that during the pages where the writing fit the setting (such as the lovely scenes between Psyche and Eros) I really fell for it and enjoyed both of the characters, as well as the story. I think Jessie Harrell has a lot of potential as a writer and will definitely keep an eye out for her future works; this one, unfortunately, just fell short with me. Of course, again… I’m a mythology snob.