Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

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😵 Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis – Mythology for the Confused (aka Me)

Full disclosure: I am hopeless with mythology. Seriously, every time I try to read it, my brain short-circuits. Names blur, gods get cranky, and I’m left wondering if I missed a memo. This book? No exception. But hey, I tried! And I kinda liked it… so let’s dive in.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨✩ (3.5/5)
Genre: Mythological retelling, fantasy, philosophical
Author: C.S. Lewis (yep, Chronicles of Narnia guy – but don’t expect fauns and wardrobes here)
Published: 1956

⚠️ Trigger Warnings (TW)

Before we go any further, here are some potential triggers you might want to know:

  • Sacrifice (yep, human kind)

  • Plague, famine, and drought (aka apocalypse starter pack)

  • Parental neglect (daddy issues incoming)

  • Self-loathing (our narrator is harsh on herself)

  • Death of siblings (emotional gut punch)

  • Religious trauma/conflict with the gods (aka the core theme)

Spoiler Alert! 🚨

I’m about to spill EVERY. SINGLE. THING. about this book. If you want to read it fresh, go grab it here on Amazon (affiliate link – thanks for supporting my caffeine habit ☕).

🌟 What Even Is This Book?

C.S. Lewis’s final novel (Till We Have Faces) is basically him saying:

“You thought Chronicles of Narnia was deep? Hold my mythical beer.”

It’s a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, but through the bitter, jealous, and heartbreaking lens of Psyche’s sister Orual. Oh, and Lewis uses this as an excuse to wrestle with some light topics like:

  • The meaning of love

  • The silence of the gods

  • And why being ugly in a fairy tale sucks.

👑 Plot Summary – Full Spoilers Incoming

Part 1: Orual’s Angry Rant

We meet Orual, eldest daughter of the king of Glome. She’s… uh… not cute. Like, she’s painfully aware of it, and it shapes her whole life. She adores her youngest sister, Psyche (Istra), who’s basically a walking Disney princess. When Psyche’s beauty causes chaos (famine, drought, plagues – the usual), the priests decide she must be sacrificed to the gods to appease Ungit (a goddess who is not winning any popularity contests).

Orual loses it. Psyche gets sent up the mountain. Everyone expects her to be eaten by a monster. BUT SURPRISE – Psyche’s alive and married to a mysterious god of the mountain (spoiler: it’s Cupid).

The catch? She’s not allowed to see his face. (Red flag? Maybe. But Greek gods are weird.)

Orual thinks this is all nonsense and convinces Psyche to light a lamp while he’s sleeping. This breaks the trust (classic fairy tale trope), and the god banishes Psyche forever.

Orual? Crushed. Psyche? Gone.

Part 2: Orual’s Glow-Down and Glow-Up

Orual becomes queen after her dad dies. She’s good at ruling but terrible at feelings (relatable). She hides behind her veil (literally) because of her looks and bitterness.

Years later, she hears the “official myth” of Psyche’s story – and guess what? It paints her as the jealous, villainous sister. She’s furious, so she writes her side of the story – the book we’re literally reading.

But then… visions happen. Self-reckoning ensues. Orual realizes:

  • She was selfish.

  • Her love for Psyche was possessive.

  • The gods weren’t silent – she just wasn’t listening.

In the end, Orual reconciles with Psyche (spiritually, not physically). She finally “sees” the gods and herself clearly and dies at peace.

🎭 Themes (aka Stuff That Made Me Go Hmm…)

  • Love vs. Possession – Orual loves Psyche but in a way that’s… not healthy.

  • Faith vs. Doubt – The gods’ silence drives Orual’s anger.

  • Identity & Self-Perception – Orual’s ugliness defines her in tragic ways.

  • The Divine Mystery™ – Lewis gets super philosophical about what it means to see truth.

😂 My Honest Take (aka “Why I’m Still Confused”)

Look, I’ll admit it: I got lost. Mythology and I do not vibe. But even in my confusion, there were moments that punched me right in the feelings. Orual is so human in her bitterness and longing, and Lewis’s prose is gorgeous.

But if you’re like me and struggle with myths? You might find this one… chewy. (Like stale caramel chewy.) Still, worth reading if you like slow-burn emotional gut punches and philosophical vibes.

Final Score: 3.5/5 – Beautiful but brain-melting.

📚 Similar Books You Might Like

  • Circe by Madeline Miller (Greek myth retelling, but way more approachable)

  • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (tragic love, Greek myth, gorgeous prose)

  • Till We Have Faces (again) but maybe listen to the audiobook – helps with immersion!

🛒 Grab It Here

Buy Till We Have Faces on Amazon (affiliate link – thank you for supporting my blog!)

Final Thoughts

Even if mythology isn’t your thing (hi, it’s me), Till We Have Faces is worth trying for the emotional depth alone. It’s less about gods and more about what it means to love someone truly – and how terrifying self-awareness can be.

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