This is the fourth book in the Myth-O-Mania series, which offer alternative versions of the Greek myths, narrated by Hades. Hades, who is a self-professed shy and serious god, promises to tell the whole truth about the Greek myth; he claims that his brother Zeus, is a myth-o-maniac (that is, a liar) and that he fabricated the myths and wrote his version so that he and his children will appear noble and praiseworthy. Hades’ versions offer the “true” story of the myths.

In this book, Hades promises to write the truth about Cupid and Psyche. Hades claims that Cupid was not handsome as the myth relates, that he was actually an “awkward, pimple-faced, greasy-haired teen-god with braces on his teeth.” (p. 9). Cupid thought Psyche was beautiful but did not dare to approach her. Cupid also resents his mother who is obsessed with appearances: “She just wants me to look good so I won’t embarrass her.” (pp. 15–16). Psyche is also facing family problems. Her twin older sisters (called here Muffy and Buffy) make fun of her and trick her and she is also forced to marry. 

When Hades hears the rumor that the mortals are worshipping Psyche and neglecting Aphrodite, he hurries to Thebes to warn King Otis, Psyche’s father, to beware of Aphrodite’s wrath. On his way, he encounters Cupid who confides in him his mother’s plan, to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous mortal. Cupid accompanies Hades to Psyche’s house, and while he hides in order to shoot Psyche with his love arrow, Hades interferes and knocks Cupid down. Cupid then sees Psyche for the first time and falls in love with her. Psyche is then ordered by the sibyl at Delphi to marry a serpent. 

Hades suspects the oracle was false and decides to check the matter. He finds out that kidnapping Psyche was a plan by Cupid and Zeus. (Zeus helps Cupid in his mischievous plan because he is his father yet he is not a dominant figure in the story). Cupid wishes to keep her locked in Zeus’ palace until his appearance improves. Psyche, meanwhile, is talking to Cupid every night without him allowing her to see him, and asks him for the company of her sisters. When Psyche accidently spills hot oil on Cupid while trying to see him, he gets hurt and cries to his mother. Psyche tries to reassures him that she loves him regardless of his look but he does not trust her. Hades suggests that Psyche wins over Aphrodite, and therefore Psyche performs the tasks she is given by Aphrodite (with the help of Hades) and in the end she and Cupid are reunited

The myth of Cupid and Psych is a well-known romantic tale of love that conquers all odds. One of the great premises of the story is that the horrible monster Psyche thought she wed is actually a beautiful god. By making Cupid a pimpled teenager and not a divine heartthrob, the author turns the story on its head and makes the story relevant to other awkward teens who might be in love with the class’ most beautiful girl. Thus the story she tells becomes less mythical and more in line with typical teen romantic comedies, in which the Geek boy gets the class queen. This seems to follow the series returning motif of helping the weaker or the underdog (for example, in the books about Medusa or Helen).

Furthermore, the fact that Cupid is ugly is a rarity in the world of gods (with the exception of the limping Hephaestus) and thus the author makes his story easy for teenagers to relate to. Not only does Cupid feel awkward, he also feels that his mother resents his appearance and is ashamed of him. All of these emotions are connected with growing up and puberty, which teenagers experience. Aphrodite is portrayed as an overbearing Italian mother. Hades tells Psyche that Aphrodite is sensitive because of the way she was born (from the foam of the sea) and that she claims that she has the soul of an Italian since she lived in Italy for a while. He tells her that this is why she gave her son a Roman name. While the entire story is fiction, this is a rather unusual explanation in a story that mixes together Greece and Rome, since Cupid had a Greek name, Eros.

Even though Cupid tricked Psyche, the readers can relate to his anxiety. He wishes Psyche to love him for who he is, yet is greatly concerned with his appearance. He is heavily influenced by his mother: “Mom’s always told me that love and beauty go together.” (p. 89). This story is a didactic tale about external and internal beauty. If the readers are familiar with the original myth, they have a prior knowledge that Psyche loved Cupid for his character and not just his appearance or divinity. If they are new to the myth than the author explains this aspect of the love story to them. Cupid becomes the real focus of the story, the one who is pitied by others because of his mother and his low self-esteem. The story as it is told by the author, seem to appeal to both genders. Girls can relate with Psyche, yet they can also fully relate to Cupid’s insecurities, especially about his looks at the beginning. Boy readers could also relate to Cupid who is the main protagonist of the story this time, and not Psyche. Thus the story seems to be directing both gender and giving each a relatable hero.