Oh my goddess, It's Valentine's day! Yes, I said goddess, and it is not a typo. Today is the last day of my Valentine's blog series, and I though we should have some kind of historical fiction in the mix. Maybe not the most romantic ancient Roman legend, but the story of the god of love, Cupid and his beloved Psyche is a wonderful Valentine's day story. It's a story of jealousy, passion and God-like wrath to it's most glorious. The version? Cupid by Julius Lester.
in a kindom near ancient Rome, there was a king and queen with three daughters. The older daughters were vain and cruel, and jealous of their youngest sister. Psyche is a sweet. caring young woman. She is kind and wishes that she wouldn't be so loved by her people. her people adore her, though, because Psyche was beautiful beyond human comparison. She is said to be as beautiful as the goddess of love, Venus, herself.
Venus, of course isn't too happy that people are worshiping a human girl instead of her. She looks down on Psyche as trying to take her place. Even though Psyche prays to Venus everyday as to why people worship her, and why was this beauty cast upon her. Venus thinks it's all a play and sends her son, Cupid, down to earth. His job is to make a fool of her by making her fall in love with the ugliest man in the world. He seems content to doing this.
That is, until he sees her. He immediately falls in love with her beauty, and the words she rays to his mother for her troubles. He sees the goodness in her, and decides to keep her for himself. He goes to Apollo, and makes him tell the king that Psyche will be married off to a monster on a mountain. Psyche bravely accepts her fate, little to know that her husband is actually the god of love himself! but, this is because he only comes to her at night, and she is never to look at his face, for then she won't love him anymore.
But, when Psyche's sisters come home to 'support their parents and their long gone sister, they go up to Psyche's mountain. Psyche meets them there to tell them she is fine, and she tells them all about her mysterious husband. her sisters, being the evil ones they are, try to trick Psyche into looking at Cupid's face when he sleeps. But, she knows fully well the consequences of looking at him, but she is very curious and wants to know who her husband is.
RED'S ALL STAR REVIEW: 3 1/2 out of 5. This story is a modern update on the classic tale, with funny narration and great humor between the drama. I liked this version of the roman myth.
MASS APPEAL: Come on, it's Valentine's day! Even if it doesn't sound good to you, read it anyway.
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