Cover Image: Electric Idol

Electric Idol

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Katee Robert returns to her Olympus series with a steamy dark revenge tale that will keep you on the edge of your set and begging for more.

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Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2). By Katee Robert. 2022. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

Robert’s Dark Olympus series brings a unique interpretation to Greek mythology. Eros and Psyche may not have divine powers in this modern day retelling, but that doesn’t make them or their advisories in the city of Olympus any less deadly or embroiled in political intrigue. Overall, an entertaining and steamy read and I am interested in reading book one, with Hades and Persephone!

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Neon Gods was the first book I have ever read by Katee Robert. I fell in love with her take on Hades and Persephone. When I heard about the next installment in her Dark Olympus series, I knew I needed it in my hands as soon as possible. This time around, I had no idea what to expect since I’m not familiar with the myth of Eros and Psyche.

This book picks up right where Neon Gods left off. Olympus is trying to stabilize itself after the loss of the last Zeus and the revelation of Hades being alive after the role being gone for 30 years. Demeter, Psyche’s mother, is still determined to have one of her daughters take on the Hera role. Demeter’s sights are set on Psyche becoming Hera. These plans go up in flames after a chance encounter between Eros and Psyche is photographed. Olympus believes they are star-crossed lovers in secret. Due to the buzz, Aphrodite tells Eros she wants him to kill Psyche. For the first time in a long time, Eros defies his mother. He decides to save Psyche by marrying her.

Like its predecessor, Electric Idol is a quick, entertaining read! I really enjoyed Psyche and Eros as characters. Watching them get to know each other and let their walls down bit by bit was heartwarming. Eros is such a complex, damaged character. His mother has manipulated and used his love for her against him his whole life. Now he believes he’s a monster who is unworthy of love. Then, Psyche comes along, and she sees him for who he truly is rather than who the media and even Eros believe him to be.

My biggest complaints about this book are the plot and the fast-track relationship between Eros and Psyche. I hate to say it, but the plot is weak. Most of this book is about the relationship between Eros and Psyche. Aphrodite didn’t seem as much of a threat as Eros claimed until the very end of the book. Then, once Aphrodite pops up and becomes a threat, she is neutralized way too easily and quickly. My last complaint is that the romance is rushed. These two characters don’t know each other that well before they start proclaiming to be in love. Don’t get me wrong, their romance is super cute. I just wish we got more of it before they fell in love and the book ended.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to romance fans! It has angst, pining, and a marriage of convenience! I’m excited to see what Katee Robert writes next.

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Aphrodite wants Psyche's heart on a silver plater...and the Goddess of Love and Beauty doesn't mean her metaphorical heart either. Eros has served as his mother's fixer for as long as he can remember; his hands forever stained by the blood he's had to spill in the name of Aphrodite's vendettas and vanity. He has always seen himself as a monster, until Psyche shows him a moment of compassion. Now, he cannot bring himself to fulfill his mother's orders. Instead, he wants to protect Psyche from his mother and, what better way to do so than by marrying her.

So begins the the second installment of Katee Robert's "Dark Olympus" series. "Electric Idol" has all the heat and steam and longing that one could want in a romance. The chemistry between Eros and Psyche is amazing and the way that their relationship develops seems relatively natural.

"Electric Idol" contains many of my favorite tropes in romance: Forced proximity. Check. Marriage of convivence. Check. "I hate everyone but her" alpha male. Check and CHECK!

This book packs a high steam level and is such a quick read that you can easily finish it in one sitting.

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There are two things going on here, and one of them works very well while the other works not at all, and that's actually kind of okay.

First things first: Erotica! This is a solidly good erotica - our leads have chemistry, we're finally getting to see a plus-sized heroine, and there's literally a scene in which our leads have oral sex for like forty-five minutes straight (though the scene is weirdly short, considering). Good time, all around. This is not the kink-fest that Neon Gods was (these characters think that having sex in front of a mirror is the height of scandal - which is practically pearl-clutching compared to our last leads in this series), but it's good and it's sexy and it's wonderful about consent.

Second things second: Theoretically, this was billed as a Myth Retelling. It is not one. Nothing about the Cupid/Psyche story happens here - absolutely none. The secret identity thing? Nope! The can't-look-at-your-face thing? Nope! The liasons in the dark? Nope! The forced separation followed by the heroine coming to the rescue? Nope! Nothing. I promise there's nothing. Absolutely nothing from that myth happens, these people are just named Psyche and Eros for no reason.

Which...was admittedly disapointing. Listen, I love that myth. I wanted our heroine to get to have some heroics. I wanted the angst of love in the dark. I wanted the tragedy of finding out you're cursed the same second you realize you're in love - followed by the epic win of the heroine rescuing the hero. So, I thought the lack of any hint of that story was a bummer.

This is more Beauty and the Beast-esque, if anything? We've got a marriage of convenience (and don't get me wrong, I love those), and a seemingly scary hero with a soft spot for the heroine, and a heroine who is so genuinely good that she wins him over. It's cute. It's sexy. It's just not really as advertised. If you know that going in, it's going to be a solidly good time. (I think it's a little bit of a Sophomore Slump, for this series, but sometimes that just happens!)

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Ahhhh! Give me more of Dark Olympus and more Katee Robert, please! This series is so sensual, sexy, fierce - I just can't get enough. Katee's writing springs to life and it is so incredible.

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While I didn’t love this one quite as much as Neon Gods, it still delivers the same heat and Katee Robert Sparkle. Big fan of this series and can’t wait for the next book!

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This might just be my favorite Katee Robert book. The suspense was there and of course top notch scorching spice, but I just loved the character of Psyche. I have been reading primarily fat main characters for about a year. I have read some really great representation and some really bad representation. Psyche was some of the best. I loved that she was portrayed as this glamorous social influencers who just happened to be in a bigger body, yet there were discussions about how she had to be extra perfect because of her body and sometimes people were shitty about it, but it was done is such a way that Psyche and those who mattered to her never once questioned their worth. Eros loved her and her body, like the best love, the morally grey burn down the world for you kind of love, and who doesn't love that. Slow burn, fake relationship, and spice to set off siren, it really had it all.

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I think this one might be even better than the first book! The intense chemistry between Eros and Psyche was so well-written. I thought that Eros especially had fantastic character development. I love a fake relationship trope and this one was so well done! And I am definitely here for Psyche as a sexy, plus-size heroine. I love how much Eros appreciated both her fabulous curves and her intelligence. Helen was a great side character, Hermes continues to make me laugh, and I just cannot wait for more from the Dimitriou sisters! Especially after the twist at the end. I need the next book NOW!

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This is an Eros Psyche retelling that is so hot it melt titanium. Katee Robert is a phenomenal author and this just one more showing of it. Hot action between two beautifully flawed people. Amazing storytelling and continued world building that will keep you from putting the book down.

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Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was very nervous to get into this book for two reasons:
1. The book has been over hyped EVERYWHERE I look and that is always scary.
2. I'm kind of over Greek Mythology retellings because they are everywhere.

However, I thought I would try because the myth this author chose hasn't been overhyped and the summary of the book sounded too good to pass up... I was definitely right!

This book was such a crazy thrill ride that lasted until the very last second. The characters started off strong and kept getting more lovable and intriguing until the very end! The characters were WONDERFUL and the book world was so good!

I haven't unfortunately read the first book of the series so it took me a minute to get my bearings in the book world, but the author made it so easy so I caught on really fast! So if you haven't read the first book, but want to read this one, it is total okay and you will catch up really quick. After finishing this read, I am so ready to inhale the first book because I would love more time with all of these amazing characters. Greek mythology has been so over done, but this book series has created such an unique book world with crazy and bloody political battles! LOVED ITTTTTT....

Alsoooooo, the steam is AMAZING. Eros.... is the TRUE LOVE GOD!

I cannot wait for the next installment of the series.... crossing my fingers it is Zeus and Hera!

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I LOVED THIS. The way the myths worked in along with the excellent characterization of Eros and Psyche

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A highly anticipated 2022 release, Electic Idol did not disappoint! Katee Robert's mythical setting and characters feel fresh and highly original. The romance between Psyche and Eros was just as fun to read as the first book. The steam level is off the charts and the plot is compulsively readable.

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Oofffffffff, this was not it fam. As someone who REALLY enjoyed Neon Gods I’m sad to announce that Electric Idol fell flat in every way, so much so that I couldn’t even finish it. The things that I could ignore in Neon Gods, a huge lack of world development and a magic system that wasn’t actually there? ARE THE BARRIERS REAL?!, I couldn’t in Electric Idol. I seriously don’t even understand why she decided to add an element of magic to this series? And I feel like I can’t even really say there is magic in it because there really isn’t, there is just ONE THING that is magic and that’s the barriers? Which makes no sense for the rest of the world? Why even make those magic at all? Why kit just have them guarded? To go along with the mafia vibes? They’re just casually mentioned and that’s that.

Anyways, moving on because thinking about these barriers makes my brain hurt. I didn’t like this and I’m disappointed. There was no expansion of the world, the characters were extremely two dimensional and the romance was so rushed and insta-lovey. Seriously, one page Eros was talking about killing Psyche and the next he was head over heels and that’s that… When no development had happened from one page to the next…

This was just all bad.

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A steamy modern retelling of the Psyche and Eros story. Their families are enemies but when Aphrodite sends Eros to kill Psyche, he can't do it. To save Psyche they must come up with a plan. Their only solution is a fake relationship. They turn themselves Olympus' hottest new couple on social media but it's not all pretend!

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Electric Idol did not blow me away like Neon Gods did.

The premise sounded amazing. Marriage of convenience, romance between the most feared man in Olympus and the society darling? A sexy Eros/Psyche retelling? I should have been head over heels for this.

Unfortunately I just did not fall in love with the book or the characters all that much. The characterization felt overly repetitive; every Eros perspective chapter had mentions of him being a “monster”, while every Pysche perspective chapter reminded us she was cunning and a social influencer. The problem is, we don’t see more than that. It feels one-dimensional. Eros might be a “monster” but we don’t see him do any monstrous acts in book, just mentions of his previous ones.

Another thing I’ll say is I found the plot stakes to be rather simplistic. Eros and Psyche enter a marriage of convenience because Eros’ mother Aphrodite wants Psyche dead. However, they get married and Aphrodite still wants her dead and she’s still in danger to the surprise of no one, lol. While I understand why they were brought together in this way I still think it made their reasoning just a bit nonsensical and made it harder to take these two characters seriously.

Other than that I have to say I did enjoy the way Eros' emotional abuse arc was portrayed. It felt raw and did give me a better insight into his character.

Katee wrote really good sex scenes between them, and while I didn’t really understand the purpose of the marriage, their chemistry was off the charts. I do wish we could have gotten kinkier scenes like we had in Neon Gods, especially with all the mirrors in Eros’ apartment. iykyk.

All in all, this is a case of unmet expectations. The first book in Katee’s Dark Olympus series remains my favorite of the bunch, but I still enjoyed it even if it was a bit less. I will continue to read more from the series because I really enjoy the world building and knowing more about each character.

An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley, this did not influence my review.

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it’s no secret that i love katee robert as an author and as a person.

but electric idol!?! katee did what needed to be done. i am absolutely in love with eros as a character as well as eros and psyche together.

the chemistry is electric! 😏

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I love retellings and ELECTRIC IDOL by Katee Robert is a fantastic one!!⁠

'A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Psyche and Eros that's as sinful as it is sweet.'⁠

y'aaall this book has major grumpy/ sunshine, forced proximity, fake (but real) marriage vibes! and I am now forever obsessed with Eros. ⁠
I didn't think a book could top NEON GODS and Hades, but this book did! I cannot wait to see what book three brings!! ⁠

"He was the most beautiful man alive.⁠
And if I wasn't careful, he was going to be my death."⁠

now back to the actual review! ⁠
this book kicks off not long after Neon Gods, there's the same crazy world over the top people and excessive parties. but, we get to meet some fun new characters, and of course catch up with old favourites... anyone else excited for a Callisto story? ⁠

Overall, its a fun, enjoyable read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. and of course provides all the smut!!

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Psyche was a wonderful main character who is fat-positive and loves herself. I’m reluctant to love Eros and wish there was a bit more redemption for how much pain he caused others. But I will 100% read every book in this series and recommend it to others

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"The woman showed me kindness once, and then I essentially followed her home like a feral cat and forced her to marry me."

Does that quote not say it all? I was as hopeless as Psyche when it came to resisting the pull of Eros and by the end of Katee Robert's Electric Idol I was ready to serve him my heart on a silver platter.

I read this ARC near the end of last year and my original notes for my review were simply "loved him, loved her, loved them, yes!" I figured that time might make me more eloquent but in so many ways that little note sums up exactly how I felt about Electric Idol. It's as if Robert popped all of my favorite tropes into a blender and served it to me with a cherry on top.

Eros is a catnip hero for me—he's seen and done things that have scarred him and it makes him believe he's unworthy of Psyche. But instead of using that as a reason to push her away, he holds her close and dares the fates to try and take her from him. He facilitates between deadly and tender to be whatever she needs—equally ready to burn down the world if it hurts her or reverently worship her. But he's so used to handling what others ask of him, that he's unsure of what to do when Psyche begins to take care of him in return and I loved his vulnerability in learning to lean on her.

Then there's Psyche. I particularly love the way that Robert writes fat heroines and Psyche's frankness with Eros about the ways that she has fought to love her body rang so true to me. Roberts delivers a woman who is confident, who uses her power as an influencer to make the path easier for those who follow her, and who is also dealing with issues of fatphobia in the fashion industry that she loves and often needing to enlighten our hero about what she faces, no matter how perfect he sees her being.

I was rooting so hard for these two and their HEA every step of the way. I now have the audiobook as well so that I can relisten to this gem as I wait for Wicked Beauty!

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