Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use and cursing.

“Aphrodite makes a show of looking at my body. ‘No offense, Psyche, but you’re hardly the proper type to become Hera. You just…don’t fit in. I’m sure you understand.’ Her smile goes sugary sweet and does nothing to dampen the poison of her words.”

The thinly veiled venom of these initial interactions demonstrates Psyche’s analytical mind and ability to assess threats even as Robert firmly establishes Aphrodite as the villain of the piece. The emphasis on scrutiny as a “show” indicates that Psyche is acutely aware of social events as performances, and it is also clear that Aphrodite is disguising cruel insults as casual remarks. This dynamic sets up a key adversarial relationship in the text while emphasizing that Olympus is a society in which appearances are deeply associated with power and status.

“The exhaustion on his face only makes him more attractive, which I might find horribly unfair later, but right now I can’t find enough oxygen in this room to breathe. Panic. That’s what I’m feeling. Pure panic. It’s not attraction. It can’t be. Not to him.”

The short sentences in this passage indicate that Eros’s sheer physical aura has reduced Psyche’s capacity for thought. Her inability to breathe in his presence underscores the sense that he is a risk to her life, introducing the element of danger that defines their early relationship. She quickly denies that she might be genuinely drawn to him, and this thought adds to the forbidden nature of their attraction and eventual romance.

“I can see the headlines now. Star-crossed lovers! What will Demeter and Aphrodite think of their children’s secret relationship? Forget stroking out in rage. My mother is going to kill me.”

Psyche’s observation establishes that she is acutely aware of her and Eros’s status as public figures. She also knows from experience that the truth is irrelevant when compared to the mere appearance of a dramatic story. Her hyperbolic description of her mother’s potential reaction also establishes that