I've loved every book in this series and I think the world-building Katee has done makes me want to stick around to the end, however, there was almost too much going on with having 4 main characters.

Four POVs, so many relationships to introduce and develop it felt like we needed more but also at the same time I don't think I could've read anymore.

The ending felt lack luster after the introduction to so many of the side characters we had learned about in the last books, I was just hoping for more romance, especially with an open poly knot.

Pros: There’s a comfort in reading this series, knowing exactly what you’ll get. This book focuses on Aphrodite, Pandora, Hephaestus, and Adonis and the complex governing system that exists in this world. I liked some of the characters more than others, especially Pandora, but every character adds something to the plot. This book is great if you’re looking for a quick, hot read that won’t make you think too much,

Cons: The plot? I’ve given up at this point trying to figure out what’s happening in this series lol. I find the amount of characters very confusing, especially given that many of them have 2 different names throughout the series. This won’t make me stop reading the series but I wish it was a little easier to understand who is who.

I was so excited for this book, but I feel bad because it was my least favorite of the series unfortunately.

It was super slow in the beginning, and thankfully it picked up in the end but woof it was a rough go.

My biggest suggestion with reading this series is that you should create a list of who everyone is, and what their name is so when their job changes and their name changes you know it’s not a new character.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Another great addition to the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert! In this book we follow Aphrodite (Eris) and Hephestaeus (Theseus) after the fall out of the last book that landed Theseus the Hephestaeus title. Tensions are running high in Olympus and as the city seems to be crumbling around them can this fake marriage turn into more? A very well done story with an ending I was not expecting! Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

4.5 stars rounded up!

This was a mess in the best possible way. The romance is perfection. I think one of my secret favorite tropes is a political marriage.

My only critique is just like Radiant Sin, the ending was SO FAST. But overall, I loved this one!

Get ready to be drawn back into the drama and romance of Katee Roberts' Olympus. Hephaestus may not be as likeable up front as some of our former heroes but the bad boy of Minos' crew has a soft side that comes out around Aphrodite. Murder, mayhem, and sizzling romance will not leave you disappointed as a new clause has left most of Olympus at risk with attempts being made on the lives of members of the Thirteen.

This was one of my least favorites in the series. It definitely picked up towards the end but it was really slow in the first half. I feel like this was less romance and more just plot development for the next few books. Will still be continuing the series but hopefully the next one is better!

The Dark Olympus series is just so entertaining! It is steamy, spicy and delicious. I do feel as though this book could be read alone but why would you miss out on these incredible characters in this fascinating world by not reading what comes before?! Robert is an amazing author who has a gift of sucking you in from the first page and never turning loose. I read this in one sitting and highly recommend it!

I’m already entrenched in this world, and its characters, and I cant wait to pick up each new installment. As the dedication in this one notes, its messy. In all the best possible ways. Eris as the new Aphrodite is ensuring a spectacle as she marries Theseus, the new and dangerous, Hephaestus- breaking Adonis’ heart. Political games afoot, cautious about potential allies like Pandora, and city in turmoil - what happens next is a quick, and spicy, turn of events. 4/5

I think I am just a little too traditional for this title. The multiple lovers was just too much for me. I loved the first books in her series but as they get darker and more complicated I have found myself less drawn to them.

While I was not a huge fan oof books 1 and 2, 3 and 4 were great! 5 was no exception. Ms. Katee Robert does it again

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. this was fantastic, just what i have come to expect from this author and look forward to carrying in my book store.

Just when I was getting back into these books, this happened. Don’t get me wrong, I did like it, but I was also annoyed by the amount of POVs it had. It basically gave enough for them to say they were still in love with each other and then that they were fighting each other and other people, and that was it. That was the whole book. Even when someone tried to kill them it was at the end of the book. Idk, it was a lot lol

Ok so this is a great representation of a poly romance. This was my first one and I was a little intimidated. But I think this ended up being a good one for me to start with. There’s not too many people and they all had different personalities. It was good for me to tell who was who. What I didn’t like about it tho was the way most of the book was about me getting to know them separately and them together. I wasn’t worried about it until I realized the book was over and nothing had really happened lol

I gotta say, this one was mostly about the spice. I don’t feel like there was much plot to it. That’s not something that bothered me, but just a heads up for anyone else who might want it. But this also annoyed me because by the time this got really good, it was over. I wanted to know who tried that thing on the end and what they all ended up doing together. And I really was interested in seeing a little more of them finally being on the same page. They spent most of the book fighting it and being together in couples here and there, but I thought it would show us some time with them together and not fighting it. But it showed just the aftermath of them in a hospital room.

As a character driven reader and this being #5 in the series, I was ok with not having the world-building and only getting to know the characters via their relationship. I know it’s going to come up again. Katee is good about bringing up other things in the next book of a series. So I’m not sweating this at all. And because Aphrodite was bad ass and wasn’t taking shit from anyone, so I know she’s going to come up again when everyone starts healing.

The narrators of this were also good. I remember at one point I wasn’t a fan of Alex, but he’s since pulled it together and he’s gotten really good at this. He still needs a bit of help when doing women’s voices during his chapters, but he’s doing a lot better than he was in the very beginning. Otherwise, this duo has been really good together and I can’t wait to see or hear rather, more of them together.

This wasn’t my favorite of the series, in fact I thought it was mid. It introduced me to something, but I wanted more action and fighting. Very different from what I normally want, but I think it’s because I’ve become used to it in her books. But I think if you’re used to going in to these books for the spice, you won’t be disappointed. I liked this for the things it taught me about polyamory, but not for what it gave me on the fantasy and fighting side.

I have been obsessively reading the Dark Olympus series from the beginning and this book did not disappoint.

I wasn't sure how I was going to like this one, because none of the characters were my favourite or super likeable to this point, but Katee proved me wrong. I got really invested in the characters for exactly who they are and loved how they all fit together. Katee promised it would be messy and it was in the best way.

The overarching plot with this series continues to thicken and I'm soooo invested in where it is going and the future books.

I did feel that the book actually could have been longer. With so many characters, relationships, and plot points, it felt a bit rushed to me.

Overall, this series continues to check all the boxes for me and I can't wait to read the next one.

I'm a big Katee Robert fan. Having read the rest of the series, I can say that this one isn't my favorite but that ultimately it was still really well written and a great romance read. This is the first quad romance book I've read and I was worried that I would be thrown off by the different perspectives and that I would think the romance felt rushed or forced but ultimately I really enjoyed it!

I voluntary read and reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My actual rating is 3,5 but i round it up to 4 stars.

As always I start with what I liked about the book.

It was very easy to read with small and easy to handle chapters. The book doesn't get boring at all because it has some good politics happening and a very good amount of spice and a well written one.

Now to the things that personally i didn't enjoy as much.

This is the first polyamory book I read and I don't think I liked it as much as I expected but this is just me. Also the insta love isn't that much my thing so those two are why the rating isn't lower. It's just me and i dont think it should impact my book rating.

Now my actual issues are with the way too many names and way too many roles that it gets confusing. There aren't enough development in the relationships for me to get invested in what's happening. Last but not least I feel that the book ends a bit too soon.

Nonetheless it was a enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and the author for providing me with the copy.

This is messy! The author promised it would be and they sure delivered.

While I think it was well written, especially for a quad romance and how difficult that can be to twine everything together, I kind of just feel meh about it. I still don’t understand a lot of the greater world building, or why many things are so intense for seemingly little reason? There’s a lot of build up in this book particularly that just turn into nothing? I enjoy this world and I like the author so I still going to read the series but I’m cooling a bit on this series.

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

I wasn't particularly interested in this story before I started, but I trusted Katee Robert and this might end up being one of my favorites of the series. Aphrodite and Hephaestus have such a good dynamic, but seeing them with Pandora and Adonis actually worked for me. I especially liked that it wasn't just everyone for everyone because representation matters, and not everyone in a poly situation is going to be with everyone else. It was both unexpected (the ending!!!), and completely expected (smutty smut smut), and I really enjoyed it.

Just like her other books in the Olympus series Cruel Seduction will not disappoint you. This is full of steamy sex and a mystery that surronds Aphrodite, Hephasestus, Pandora, and Adonis. Could not put this one down!

Wow. Wow. Wow. I've never read a polyamorous romance with 4 main characters, but the balance between their perspectives and the character development is amazing. In the continuation of this myth retelling series, Aphrodite must marry the new Hephaestus for political reasons. She seduces his childhood best friend, Pandora, to try to gain power over him. He seduces her heart broken ex-lover Adonis. The people of Olympus have learned about the murder clause, which puts both Aphrodite and Hephaestus in pretty constant danger -- both from each other and from the rest of the city. Emotions are high in this book. And the erotic romance is ever higher (which is exactly what I've come to expect from a Katee Robert novel). This wasn't my favorite in the series so far. But I am definitely continuing.