Immortality is no fun at all for the 3,375-year-old virgin of Mount Olympus.
Cupid’s humdrum existence takes a sharp turn for the worse when a love-tipped arrow fired at the wrong rump gets him banished from home. Reunited in present-day Indiana with his long-lost best friend Pan, Cupid delights in his novel erotic prowess and apparent freedom until he falls deeply in love for the first time and realizes the full measure of his punishment: he must unite his beloved Mia with the Right Love she deserves, and then he must let her go. To fulfill his divine mission, Cupid must survive the violent throes of his own coming of age while battling the powerful gods conspiring against him.
Cupid’s quest pulls the reader inside an intricate web of attraction, friendship, duty, and love that plays out not only on earth but on Mount Olympus among the original dysfunctional family.
Assessment:
Plot: Strong characters move the action long in this witty romp. This first installment is well-researched and fills in the gaps for the reader who is unfamiliar with Greek mythology. The main character having to choose between love and duty proves engaging and entertaining along the racy ride.
Prose/Style: The author has a flair for keeping a quirky tone and wit throughout the story. Between intentional word choice and tone, the author has created an outlandish and creative story.
Originality: This book presents a clever mix of romance, fantasy, and mythology that is well-researched and gives the reader enough background to understand the motivations and backstories of characters.
Character Development/Execution: The colorful and quirky characters are witty and keep the storyline lively. Even though the main character may be unsophisticated at times, his charm and wit carry the plot.
Date Submitted: April 04, 2021
In Beth Greenberg’s hilarious low fantasy novel First Quiver, we meet the 3,375-year-old Cupid just as he’s banished to Earth, where he’s about to discover the highs and lows of human love for the very first time. The ironic catch? Cupid can’t have the woman he’s fallen deeply in love with; instead, he must find her true love match. A lighthearted and clever romp, mingling dating apps with ancient gods for just the right balance of silly and sweet.
