Oath of Fire

June 3, 2024
Riviera (the Ascendant trilogy) brings a fae aesthetic to this chaotic sapphic reframing of the Eros and Psyche myth. After therapist Psyche loses her clinic job, her long-distance gaming friend Bondi convinces her to accept a mysterious party invitation hiding in her Instagram messages. She ends up in another world, at a debauched revelry full of masked gods who cannot lie, but are still far from straightforward. Zephyr, her patron for the night, requests that Psyche help his friend Eros, the goddess of passion. Though Eros refuses Psyche’s attempts to act as her therapist, she binds Psyche to her as an Oathsworn, sealing the deal with a fiery kiss before sending her home. While Psyche researches a way to see Eros again, people on both sides of the veil take issue with her involvement with the Wine-Dark Court of Gods. Real-world aspects of the story—like Psyche’s longing to escape her sisters’ shadows—get lost before the end, while on the mythological side, the worldbuilding feels fuzzy. Despite some mature themes, the story often reads like a YA quest novel. Still, the thrill of encountering the unknown comes through clearly, and Psyche’s emotional arc gets a satisfying resolution. It’s rocky, but there’s plenty here to appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas.

June 14, 2024

Psyche Dimitriou loses her job as a therapist, just the latest in a string of dismissals on her r�sum�. While updating her best friend during one of their regular calls, Psyche comes across an invitation to a mysterious gathering. Unwilling to miss this once-in-a-lifetime event, Psyche arrives at a garden in the East Village, only to find herself transported to the Wine-Dark Court. The Court is dangerous for a mortal, and Psyche must swear an oath to Eros, the ruler of love and passion, in order to escape unharmed. Set in New York City, this sapphic retelling of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros is a luscious and erotic story about the transformational power of love. Psyche's motivation for spending time with Eros seems muddled at times, vacillating between a romantic and professional relationship when Psyche treats Eros like a patient instead of a lover. But while Psyche's personal growth sometimes overshadows the pair's developing relationship, the passion between the two is hard to deny. VERDICT Rivera's ("Ascendant" trilogy) combination of urban fantasy and fae-esque elements will appeal to romantasy readers who enjoy legendary love.--Maria Martin

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