Wicked Beauty
by Katee Robert

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a Greek mythology retelling. I had previously listened to the audiobook for Neon Gods the first book in this series and loved it. (Who doesn’t love a Hades and Persephone retelling?)

This book focuses on characters that are well known but that I generally knew less about - Helen of Troy, Achilles and Patroclus. In Katee Roberts version of Olympus the 13 primary ruling “gods” are more positions that are held by mortal individuals than actual individual immortals. Therefore to select the next Ares applicants must compete in a series of three trials that had a hunger games-esque quality to them.

Very LGBTQA+ positive. We have a fairly prominent non binary side character utilizing they/them pronouns. Patroclus has 2 moms and has a long term male partner and in case you couldn’t tell from the description we’re headed towards a polyamorous throuple in this plot.

Robert presents the relationships and characters in a way that is compelling, relatable and accessible even to someone who is not familiar with them in their daily life. This story is open door and high steam and yet still plot driven with captivating inner monologues from fully fleshed out characters. Trigger warnings - dead parents, dad murdered mom, manipulative siblings, history of emotional abuse as a child and in romantic relationships, bullying, abandonment/orphan.
Awesome book. I definitely want to hear more from Olympus.
Bravo - 5/5

Thank you to Sourcebooks,NetGalley and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Third in the series I do think this can be read as a standalone but the reading will be fuller having the backstory and world set up from the prior books

CW: abusive parent (past), blood, attempted murder, violence, abusive ex (past relationship but ex is present in book), miscarriage (off-page, past, side character), parental abandonment (past)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-mmf romance
-insta attraction
-rivals to lovers
-forced proximity
-a competition
-hate fucking
-just a hookup

The world of Dark Olympus keeps getting bigger. I really enjoyed this book, full of adventure, a competition to become Ares, all characters fighting to become Ares, and to win Helen's hand, including Helen. I think what stopped me from fulling loving this one was that it was more plot driven then the previous two books and I wanted more from the romance.

I loved how independent Helen was, even as everyone around her underestimated her. And how Paris was a straight up villain. Achilles and Petroculus were both so competent and different, falling almost immediately for Helen.

I loved all of the forced proximity and just want more of the three of them. The ending was exciting and I loved how things ended for the couple but so intrigued what all of this means for Dark Olympus.

Steam: 4

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca!

Ares has died and in order to complete the Thirteen a competition will be held for the position. Not only will the winner gain the title of Ares but Zeus is also offering his sister Helen as a wife to the victor. What her brother doesn’t know is that Helen plans to fight her way to becoming Ares herself. Her greatest competition is Achilles who believes himself to be the most worthy. Achilles and his partner are willing to do whatever it takes to get him the title even if it means partnering with Helen.

The synopsis of Wicked Beauty had so much potential it just didn't follow through. Calling this a “retelling” is a great leap. Other than having characters with the same names, no part of this storyline resembles anything found in Greek mythology. The plot is rushed and messy. Even the spicy bits were lacking. The relationships in this book seem much more forced than the other two books in the series.

Electric Idol was such a success after the popularity of Electric Idol but Wicked Beauty seems like it was hurried along where it needed more development. Having read the first two books, I’m interested to see where the author takes the series next. Hopefully book 4 will be an improvement.

Holy smokes… this book is FIRE. I have read the first two in this series, and they keep getting better and better!! The romance between all 3 characters was so sexy, and Helen’s character grew so much throughout the entire book. She came out stronger than ever.

I adored this book and cannot wait for the next!!

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Whew. This one was spicy! Which didn’t bother me at all… but this one wasn’t my favorite in the series. I felt like the relationships and the plot itself moved really quickly, and the ending seemed very short and wrapped up too quickly. I think if there had been 50 more pages, where some of the conflicts were flushed out a little more, I would’ve given it a 10. BUT, this book was still great, and it held my attention throughout. And I flew through it cause I couldn’t put it down.

Another wonderful Dark Olympus novel. Helen is not a prize to be won, and she'll do what it takes to have her own power in the city, even competing to win the title of Ares against warriors like Achilles and Patroclus. Achilles is also hungry for the power that comes from being one of Olympus's elite, and with the help of his partner Patroclus, he is certain he will be the next Ares.

I loved both the competition and the chemistry between the characters as they had to navigate their desire for both power and one another.

I am obsessed with Katee Robert. I love how fun her books are and I love how she is so bold. I think Wicked Beauty is my favorite book in the Dark Olympus series so far. I love the casual queerness and representation and how often do you get a polycule in modern mainstream romance?? Like an actual polycule and not just brief hook-up scenes. At times, the plot lacks a little bit but I kind of expect that with a romance book like this. The chemistry was off the charts though!! I think I will read just about anything Katee Robert publishes.

*thank you netgalley and Casablanca books for providing me with the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!!*

I was really hoping to have another one of the sister's stories, but I enjoyed Helen and her story. I loved that she found someone to take care of her the way she needed.
The relationship works with the three characters in a unique way perfectly.

Thank you for approving me for this, I was so insanely excited, you have no idea!!

I loved the first two books in this series and I was so excited to read about Helen and Achilles! That being said, I was worried about Patroclus, really worried. I can't say much without giving away anything, but Katee did not disappoint. I loved they way she handled the relationship with Patroclus and Achilles, it was honestly more than I had hoped for. So thank you!

Excellent! Katee Robert always delivers, especially with her retellings. Each installment of the Dark Olympus series just gets better. Each couple, or throuple in this case, is more and more interesting as the series continues. Achilles/Patroclus/Helen shouldn't work but they do!

My favorite part is the world-building of Olympus and in 'Wicked Beauty' we are clearly on the precipice of some big changes for the city and our characters. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think there is anything more beautiful than the reality of messy flawed love.

Katee wrote her heart into this. The honest fear, jealousy and rage in these characters is so raw and real. It moving and palpable.

Each one of these three is so tragically destroyed in one way or another and they find a stepping stone to uncomfortable necessary change in the trouple and individual relationships.
Helen is free from her father, the man wore the title of Zeus. But that doesn't mean she's free from the games of the Thirteen. Instead of being their pawns she's determined to be one of them. To be the writer of her own destiny.


I love how Katee introduced and held fast to each person maintaining their strengths and not losing them withing the triad.

Achilles understanding what Helen needs while Patroclus finds his footing was so necessary. Patroclus grounds Achilles much of the book and him getting that shining moment was the solidification of his relationship with Helen outside of the trouple.



I could honestly gush about this book for hours!


The smut is top Tier as always.



I did not move the entire time I read

A story of Helen of Troy taking control over her life and in the process finding companionship with Patroclus and Achilles, a menage romance with some spice.
I went into this story with no expectations because honestly Neon Gods let me down and Electric Idol gave me hope in this series. I’m still confused as to how the Greek Gods play a role in this series since there has hardly been any story building and the pairing of Helen here seems rather random (Briseis would have been amazing). Surprisingly though this story became my second favorite in the series so far. The heroine is someone to root for and the heroes balance each other out nicely. I enjoyed The Hunger Games vibe that took shape during the Ares competition. I felt the ending ended rather quickly and the story would have benefitted from another chapter or two showing the three of them settling into their new lives as a throuple. There were so many emotions to work through, but things were just accepted as they were.
I’m interested to see where this series goes but I don’t know if I’ll even get over how these adults are basically just role playing as Greek Gods, world building is so deeply needed!

I really loved this one. Political intrigue, a gladiator-style tournament, and a forced proximity trope that was just too good.

I loved the subtle nods to the Trojan War while also flipping it completely on its head by matching Helen with Achilles and Patroclus. The three of them fit so well together and their chemistry was fantastic.

Katee Robert has done it again! Can't wait for the next Dark Olympus book!

4- 4.25 stars

I enjoyed Helen and Patroclus's relationship, I enjoyed Patroclu and Achille's relationship, but Helen and Achilles was not my favourite; while I grew to sort of like things about it, it was the one thing I didn't love about the romance. Plus, I wanted more of Helen; I am in love with her, and I need more of her inner turmoil, and I cannot wait to see glimpses of her in the following books as she becomes the new feared Ares!

The hint for the impending danger for the city and the Thirteen roles been expanded and looked more into is DEFINITELY A WIN FOR THIS BOOK! I am so ready to see more of the politic and the relationships, and not going to lie, I REALLY want to see Hera and Zeus's story, so this better make it to at least book 9 (from the last time Katee Roberts mentioned the book plan order).

Wicked Beauty is the 3rd book in Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series (following Neon Gods and Electric Idol) and the first to significantly depart from the myth it's based on. And it shows. Neon Gods was a 5 star book for me. Electric Idol was 4 stars. This one was barely a 3. The only reason it got that high was that I genuinely like the way Katee Robert's writes. I can stress enough how much I appreciate how her dialogue is written in a way that is sounds like something a person would actually say rather than sounding like it was written by a 12 year-old. That's really the best thing I can say about this book. I didn't really care for the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, it felt a little unhealthy and like they REALLY needed to have a serious conversation with each other about what they expected from their relationship together and they needed to do that way before Helen came into the mix. And I HATED the relationship between Helen and Achilles. Normally I like enemies to lovers stories but they were just toxic. There was also little resolution at the end of the book. I hope the Minotaur and Theseus show up in future books because they were actually interesting. So while I didn't really enjoy this installment, I still plan on reading the next titles in the series.