Destined [Kindle Edition]

Jessie Harrell (Author)

Book Description

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.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An elegant, mythical adventure that powerfully tests the waters of trust, true love, and bravery!" ~ Shelena Shorts, author of The Pace series and The Syndicate

About the Author

Jessie Harrell fell in love with the Cupid & Psyche myth while majoring in Classical Studies at the University of Florida. (Yes, that degree is about as useless as it sounds.) After attending law school, getting married, having kids and realizing that the real world is a lot more work than she thought it'd be (both good and bad), she turned back to this myth and made it her own.

Product Details

• File Size: 496 KB
• Print Length: 370 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615500951
• Publisher: Mae Day Publishing (November 15, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0068S8FIM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,937 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended for YA Paranormal lovers. December 7, 2011

By Regina_Linton

Format:Kindle Edition

I came across Jessie in YALitChat. She is amazing and I am glad that I picked this book up. I try to support other bloggers out there who are writing and trying to get out there.

I really loved this book. It was fun, deceptive yet captivating. My heart broke for Psyche in so many ways and soared in others. Who wouldn't want to be visited by Aphrodite and be accepted as one of her daughters? Everyone of course, but when Psyche gets visits from Aphrodite like a stalker on steroids, she begins to get worried.

Aphrodite proposes a marriage for Psyche to her arrogant son Aros and both Aros and Psyche refuse the proposal infuriating Aphrodite. Psyche's luck has now been turned over to the oracle who will foresee her future and tell a prophecy that chills her and her family to the bone. Without choice, Psyche is forced into marriage to another and taken away from her family.

She is torn about her feelings toward her new suitor and how she is expected to act in her new home with her new servants. Romance, mystery and suspense make this book another great read. Follow Psyche on her heroine journey to set things right after she makes the biggest mistake of her life.

Highly recommended for YA Paranormal lovers and mythological dreamers.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Was not sure about it at first, but I was pleasantly surprised January 10, 2012

By Nicci @ Paper Dreams

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am an absolute sucker for story based on Greek mythology. I took a Classical Mythology course in high school, and fell completely in love with mythology, especially Greek. Anyways that love combined with the gorgeous cover of this book captured my interest. I have also been following Jessie Harrell's blog for a little while now, so I was super excited to read her debut!

At the start of the book I was somewhat off-put though. I have read many retellings and interpretations of myths. I also adore historical fiction. Obviously none of the books I have read are written in Old English or the old language of the period they are set in, but at the same time they flow seamlessly into the past. However, in Destined, the language includes many jarring moments when the language that's used pulls you straight out of the past and into the present. I never really put a much thought into language choices that an author must make, but here it was noticeable that it was not quite right.

So as you can tell I was not completely pleased with the language it was written in, but once I managed to let that go I began to really enjoy the story. Psyche is a likeable narrator and a very sympathetic one. The powerlessness of the women in Ancient Greece is heartbreaking, and Psyche, and Chara's, situations illustrate this perfectly. Eros and Psyche's relationship was easily my favorite element of the story. It is complex, but at the same time their feelings for each other are really quite simple.

It was wonderful to see a new author's take on portraying the gods and goddesses of Olympia. My favorite portrayal was definitely that of Hera. So often in stories and myths she is seen in a terrible light, as a vengeful, bitter woman, but here she is given the chance to be someone else. The use of so many members of Greek mythology was fantastic. Throughout the book there are mentions and appearances of everyone from Aphrodite and Persephone to Vesta and Helios.

Overall I think that the language usage could have been improved upon, and if it had the story would have been more believable to the period in which it is set. I did end up really enjoying this though. I am definitely looking forward to reading Jessie Harrell's next book, and I would recommend this one. Fans of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter or Abandon by Meg Cabot would likely enjoy this as well.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I tried to like it February 13, 2012

By J. Tello

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

People say don't judge by the cover but how could I not its such a beautiful cover. As for the book itself. I couldn't even finish it. I cant get past the way they spoke. When a book is set in Greek times I kinds expect a little authenticity when it comes to the language, I don't mean in Greek or old English, but I don't think in Greek times they said "what's up?" If it was a retelling set in modern times then I would understand but its not.

More About the Author

By day, I'm an appellate lawyer. By night, I'm a wife, mother of two, and author/lover of all things Greek mythology. I'm a native Floridian, frustrated world traveler, unrepentant dreamer, lover of acoustic music and not-so-closet geek. Destined, being released November 17, 2011, is my first novel. Stay tuned for Beneath the Surface, co-written with the amazing Nikki Katz.