Katee just keeps making this series better and hotter! This is my favorite one so far and I can't wait for the next one!

“He was my enemy. My lover. My husband.

And the one man I swore by all Olympus I would destroy.”

This is a modern retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus.
I will stay by saying that it is part of a series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone, I have read Neon Gods so it was really interesting see the other characters cameo.
I really enjoyed this book and loved the multiple points of view! It was really interesting to see how the characters grew together, the spice was as always, fantastic.
My only issue was I did think that the ending felt a little rushed I would have liked to have spent a bit more time with the four of them
Absolutely recommend

Thanks @netgalley & @sourcebookscasa for a copy of this book on exchange for my honest review

Cruel Seduction is a tantalizing and enchanting tale in the Dark Olympus, that takes place in the captivating world of Greek mythology, weaving together romance, rivalry, and danger. At the heart of the story is the bold and cunning goddess Aphrodite, who refuses to back down from any challenge, even if it means marrying her greatest adversary, Hephaestus.

The story introduces a wickedly clever plan concocted by Aphrodite to assert her dominance and keep Hephaestus off balance. The seduction game she plays takes an unexpected turn when she sets her sights on Pandora, a woman who holds a special place in Hephaestus's heart. The interplay between the characters is electric, filled with tension, manipulation, and a delicious sense of rivalry.

Hephaestus, the new husband and target of Aphrodite's schemes, proves to be a formidable opponent. He is more than willing to engage in their seductive battle, and he has a secret weapon of his own: the handsome and enigmatic ex-lover, Adonis. As these characters navigate the intricate web of desire and manipulation, the lines between love, hate, and attraction become increasingly blurred.

Amidst the seductive games and power struggles, emotions run deep and hearts become entangled. The story skillfully explores the complexities of love and desire, revealing the vulnerability beneath Aphrodite and Hephaestus's confident facades. Their interactions are charged with chemistry and passion, creating a sizzling dynamic that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

Against the backdrop of their intense relationship, a larger threat looms in the form of unrest in Olympus. The stakes are high, and the consequences of their actions could have far-reaching implications for themselves and the city they call home. This element of danger adds a thrilling layer to the narrative, raising the stakes and keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The melding of Greek mythology, romance, and intrigue creates a captivating and immersive reading experience. The characters' multifaceted personalities, the web of emotions they navigate, and the looming threat of conflict all contribute to a rich and engaging story. For fans of mythology-inspired romance with a touch of danger, "Aphrodite's Game" offers a compelling and satisfying journey into a world where desire and power collide.

Katee said, "you want messy? ok bet."

This was such a fun read. I absolutely go feral for a marriage of convenience trope. The dynamic between the characters was perfect, each POV was unique. I was rooting for them all. Katee, once again, delivers a thrilling plot and mouth-watering smut. Absolutely one of my favorites in the Dark Olympus series.

ⓣⓡⓞⓟⓔⓢ
Enemies to Lovers
Arraigned Marriage
Second Chance
MM/MF/MMF/FF - Polyamory
Political Intrigue

🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
This is the fifth book in the Dark Olympus series and was another solid installment within the overall plot of the world! This book saw Aphrodite (Eris) and Hephaestus (Theseus) in a newly formed political marriage with both parties bent on getting revenge on the other, and how better to do so than trying to seduce their ex (Adonis) and best friend (Pandora)? This introduced a really intriguing polyamorous relationship within the four of them that ended up being the major aspect of the book. While there was some more plot within the political drama happening with Olympus and Minos’ plans, this read as more of a character driven book with a little political plot vs. a 50/50 mix as we saw with some of the other books in the series. What we did get was really interesting though, and I’m hoping the next book has a bit more of that to the plot as well as the coupling.

I’ve found that Katee does such a good job with her characters and I’ve never read a character from her that I didn’t enjoy. I was curious how I’d feel about Theseus as he’s a bit of the “bad guy” in the last book. While I do think he had a good arc here, I wish we had a little more depth to the arc vs just falling into lust/love and that being what drove his change. I thought Aphrodite/Eris was an interesting FMC and appreciated getting to know her more as we didn’t know much about her before other than being an agent of chaos. Adonis and Pandora rounded out the quad-POV well, and I enjoyed getting to see their perspectives. Overall, I thought the poly group was well done and I appreciated the respect Katee showed poly relationships by leaving part of it open for some members in the group to continue to have outside partners. I do think that with it being the four different perspectives, it was slightly more difficult to get to know them all, as previously we’ve only had two or three. I feel like I connected with these characters the least of her previous ones BUT I still really enjoyed them all and liked seeing their interactions with others. I’m very intrigued by what we saw of Zeus in this installment and think he will be fascinating once we finally get his book!

This book did feel like it was a little slow, and I think a lot of that had to do with the four POVs and so much of it being about the different characters developing their relationship, but there were some exciting moments with the assassination attempts and getting more of Zeus and Minos’ plans. This one, similar to the last, felt like a bridge book to slowly progress the plot and build up to something else. I’m getting really impatient to see where this drama is all leading to!

Overall, I really liked the book, but its not my favorite in the series. I do love how much care and respect Katee shows all her characters and really do think she is the queen of representation (and consent). I’m itching to get a little bit more plot again vs character development in the future books, but can’t wait for the next ones to come out!

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

I went into this installment of the Dark Olympus saga with somewhat middling expectations. Eris/Aphrodite and Theseus weren't characters I had my eye on in previous books, but I know I can usually find a good time in these books so I dove in. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this book, once it got going, and Theseus/Hephestaus in particular! Positioned as a villain character, I hadn't given him much thought but I loved his relationship with Aphrodite in this as well as Pandora and Adonis.

There are four POVs in this book that Robert has to juggle and I was impressed by how well she did it. It wasn't the easiest transition from enemies/acquaintances to an open poly knot but I really shouldn't have doubted because Robert definitely gets us there at the end.

I have to say, I don't really read these books for the "plot", but I am intrigued with where we go from here. The political machinations and the "barrier falling" don't interest me as much as the interpersonal relationships but Robert has set up an interesting conceit that grows with each book and will definitely keep me reading.

Speaking of keeping reading, I need Zeus and Hera's book IMMEDIATELY. I will beg if I have to.

Thank you SO much to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s here FINALLY book #5 of the Dark Olympus series | Cruel Seduction

The ultimate seduction:

Hot, sexy scenes
Enemies to Lovers
Four-way Love Affair
Olympus Drama

This novel sets the stage for the fires to erupt with all the political discourse within the thirteen. Look forward to book #6, Midnight Ruin, January 2024. Strongly recommend you read this series in order.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the complimentary copy.

This is Book 5 in the Dark Olympus series following Aphrodite and her arranged marriage to the new Hephaestus. He is dangerous-- an outsider, and threat to the power structure of the city.

Robert delivered us a scorching p0ly dynamic with an open element that left me speechless. It was games galore with both parties continuously vying, s3duc!ng, and scheming for the upper hand.

ENTER the pl@yth!ngs:
🖤Pandora, Hephaestus' life-long best friend introduced with a tr@uma twist.
🖤Adonis, ex to Aphrodite who gives off gorgeous golden retriever energy.

In no other world could describing this dynamic as 💫messy💫 be the most delightful compliment. Their journey from enemy, villian to (??) lovers, you'll have to see for yourself, is decadent, tension filled and sp!cy.

I am not here to fool anyone that you can jump straight to this read- there are cameos, simultaneous plot lines and previous couple/throuples history mingling through. Katee continues to impress me with her construction of a longer series. She keeps you in touch with the pulse of Olympus and reminds you of favourite moments (ie: a certain clûb and thr0n€ in this installment) 😉

No sugar coating- it's an easy one sitting, one handed read. My new favourite of the series 👏👏 #whychose friends and angst lovers, this one's for you!

Another wonderful edition to the Dark Olympus series! Cruel Seduction is the newest installment in the series and oh is it good. This is the first book that I have read where the characters are polyamorous and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, but I enjoyed it. I think I was kind of confusing polyamory with reverse harem, and that is not the case with this. Despite my confusion, I am now knowledgeable about this and think it was great! I will say my one qualm with this one was that I feel like the characters don't spend enough time together and it seems very insta-lovey which isn't my cup of tea.

Katee really knows how to write spice, and let me tell you... the scene with Aphrodite, Theseus and Adonis in Aphorodite's bedroom was perfection. I also loved the scenes with Aphrodite and Pandora. This was a true enemies to lovers, as Theseus and Pandora are the adopted children of Minos, who is doing is damnedest to take over Olympus and invade the Thirteen.

But as the story goes on, lines start to become blurred and Theseus and Pandora are stuck deciding which side to stay on. This series is all around a good time, each book has something new and exciting to bring to the table and Katee really knows how to be inclusive and diverse in her stories. I recommend starting the Dark Olympus series if you haven't and want a fun, easy going, quick paced series to read!

Overview:
- polyamorous relationship (MMFF)
- forced marriage/marriage of convenience
- forbidden
- forced proximity
- second chance
- plus size rep

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, NetGalley, and Katee Robert for the early eBook copy of Cruel Seduction! Available August 8th!

3.5 Stars

This series is always loads of fun- with the delectable spice, mythological references, and all the olympus world drama, I always know I'm going to have a good time. No matter the pairings, or GROUPINGS, I always look forward to seeing where Katee is going to take the story. Cruel Seduction continues the journey, though I must say it didn't feel quite like the seduction I'm used to with the series or with Katee Robert. In the last book, I felt that the story was getting a bit lost in itself, and that really played out with Cruel Seduction. With four main characters, I expected a lot of fun group time....and a mostly character focused story. But this story felt heavily mired in the politics of this world, not quite as mythologically tight as I'm used to with the series, and oddly I felt like I needed our characters together more to truly invest in their chemistry. Of course, I still flew this and the audio is really well done, but this didn't quite have the allure this series has had for me, and I hope it can find it's way back to it's core before we get too lost in all the New Olympus politics.

Thank you @NetGalley @DreamscapeMedia @SourcebooksLandmark & @KateeRobert for ARC of Cruel Seduction.

Cruel Seduction is Book 5 in the Dark Olympus Series & is the story of Aphrodite/Eris, Hephaestus/Theseus, Adonis & Pandora

Out NOW, so run & grab your copy. Prepare yourself – this one takes the smut to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL! Katee Robert has given us another scorcher & now I’m itching to get my hands on Midnight Ruin.

If you have been living under a rock & not started this series yet, DO IT – NOW!

“He was my enemy. My lover. My husband. And the one man I swore by all Olympus I would destroy.

Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she's not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus's enemy number one, the new Hephaestus. She has a wicked plan to keep her deadly new husband off-balance, seducing the one person he seems to care about most in this world: Pandora, a woman as beautiful as she is sweet.

Two can play the seduction game, however, and Hephaestus is all too happy to put his new wife in her place. Her ex, Adonis, seems like he'll do the trick. It doesn't hurt that he's gorgeous in the way of fallen angels, either.

The only problem with using seduction as a weapon? Hearts are all too quick to get involved. With Hephaestus & Aphrodite trading venomous strikes that feel a whole lot like foreplay, lines become blurred & emotions entangled. But a broken heart may be the least of their worries. With unrest in Olympus reaching new heights, these bedroom games may have deadly consequences for themselves, their city & everyone they've come to love.”

Actual Rating 4.5☆

This is my favorite of the Dark Olympus books and I think it‘s also the spiciest of the five. Such a well written polyam romance with unique, individual characters. It's messy, it's complex, and everyone is going through shit. I loved Aphrodite and Theseus; they really were such phenomenal characters.

I devoured this book in almost one sitting because I could not put it down. I loved how there was a balance between the plot, the politics, and the romance which I found wasn't as well balanced in the other books. I also loved the gentle discussion on whether or not polyam could be a fit for Aphrodite.

I do wish it was a little longer as the ending did feel a little more rushed and I also wanted a few more scenes to help solidify the relationship between all four of them.

This book was VERY interesting! I did not realize it was about a poly relationship, so that was new to me. I loved the characters + I think the way they are helped each other was very sweet. These characters are so lovable. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.

"Cruel Seduction" by Katee Robert is a tantalizing addition to the Dark Olympus series that skillfully weaves romance, intrigue, and complex character dynamics. While the initial pacing took a bit of time to gain momentum, once the story took off, I found myself fully immersed and eagerly flipping pages. The stakes have been elevated to an all-time high for both the characters and the world they inhabit, adding a heightened sense of tension that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What truly shines in this installment is the exceptional character development. True to Katee Robert's promise, the characters and their relationships are wonderfully messy and chaotic, reflecting the complexities of their emotions and desires. While I didn't immediately warm up to all the characters, the gradual evolution of their personalities and connections ultimately won me over. Pandora, in particular, emerged as a favorite, her presence bringing a much-needed soft touch to the narrative.

The multifaceted romance dynamics are where the story truly excels. The blend of enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, and second-chance romance is expertly executed, offering a diverse and engaging range of emotional connections. The exploration of polyamorous relationships adds depth and richness to the narrative, creating a unique and refreshing take on love.

The story delivers a couple of unexpected twists toward the end, setting the stage for what promises to be an even more captivating continuation of the series. I found myself eagerly contemplating theories and eagerly awaiting the next installment, eager to see how the intriguing plot threads will unravel.

While "Cruel Seduction" took a little time to find its stride, it ultimately won me over with its complex characters, passionate romance, and the enticing blend of mythology and intrigue. I would recommend this book to those who appreciate multifaceted relationships, steamy romance, and a series that keeps you guessing with its unexpected turns.

Well, this book is hot. Like hot, hot. I mean, when I discovered this was an MMFF open poly knot romance, I knew it would be.

The series plot arc picks up right where the last book left off, with Theseus, now Hephaestus, about to join Aphrodite in an arranged marriage/ marriage of convenience of sorts. For the good of Olympus. But, this union is in name only, as the two are on different sides of a political struggle. Aphrodite determined to do whatever she can to protect the Thirteen and Olympus, and Hephaestus following the orders of Minos.

They’ve dragged their closest friends and lovers into the mix as well. Adonis, who still loves Aphrodite despite her marriage, and Pandora who has been Theseus/Hephaestus’s best friend since their days in an orphanage. There is so much sexual tension and attraction. OMG. Aphrodite immediately pulls Pandora into her web, at first using her to get to her new husband, but that undeniable attraction between the two is palpable. Adonis makes himself available to Hephaestus to help him acclimate to his new normal and hopes to protect Aphrodite, but the sexual pull between the two is wowza from the very beginning. I’m not even going to get into the relationship between Aphrodite and Hephaestus, which starts out as enemies and eventually turns into lovers.

I really enjoy this series. It’s like every time I open a new book and get sucked into the world I have to go to the author’s website to see what pairings she has planned for future books. It’s like a compulsion. I see relationships blossoming (Hello, Charon and Eurydice) and just can’t wait to see if I’ll get their story soon. I was waiting for this marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers for what seems like forever. Open poly knot? Even better.

But I did wonder how she would pull off telling four sides to a story in 350 pages or so. Turns out, alternating chapters works really well. I won’t get into plot specifics, because it’s ongoing, but I will say the ending to this book makes me wonder what will happen next. I was surprised and can’t help but think maybe another future couple I’ve been checking on will step into the Thirteen at a later date.

The Dark Olympus series is like an addiction. You just can’t help but pick up the next book in the series on release date. It’s messy and quite sexy.

(Actual: 3.5⭐, rounded up) Love Katee Robert and was so excited to be approved for this one since I really enjoy the "Dark Olympus" series. These books are always high drama (with quality spice haha) and such a breeze to get through - the perfect summer/beach read! That said, while I do still think pacing is always a bit of an issue with this series (everything almost always feels super rushed in the back third), I did still have a great time reading it and would def recommend the series out to anyone looking for a drama series loosely based off of Greek mythology.

Katee is definitely an autobuy author for me. You should totally follow her because she has great content. I loved meeting her in April she's so awesome!

This is a polyamory romance with open relationships. 😊♥️🔥🍆💦
The new Hephaestus (formerly Theseus) is in an arranged marriage with Aphrodite (formerly Eris). She is playing the political game and trying to get under his skin flirting with his bestie Pandora. While Aphrodites ex Adonis is helping Heph - "helping". I really liked them together. But then them all together was something special. I love these books!!
While all this is happening there are attempts happening on the 13 which Minos isn't taking credit for. But someone is sowing seeds of discord with the people who live in Olympus.

Definitely check out:
🔥 Polyamory MMFF
🔥 Greek mythology (loosely based since current)
🔥 Political intrigue
🔥 Marriage of convenience
🔥 Enemies to Lovers

Thank you sourcebookscasa for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

A new romance in the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert. This time we have the story of Aphrodite and the new Hephaestus, the former Theseus. There is a secondary story with these two involving Pandora and Adonis. If you love this series, this should be more of all the good stuff.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this e-arc.*

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!
- I wasn't sure how this many POVs were going to work, especially with how much political back and forth goes on in these books, but Katee Roberts managed to pull it off! I found each POV to be distinct enough that I rarely forgot whose chapter I was reading.
- I thought this balanced all the characters, plots, and ~spice~ well, and I was impressed at the pacing throughout. I kept needing to read more because there was always something going on that made you want to read the next section.
- these characters definitely fall more into the morally grey area, even compared to some of the previous books. I did like how developed all the backstories were, and I think it worked well since most readers will already have seen how brutal the setting is for any character.
- I loved seeing so many of the former MCs from the first four books throughout, but it is starting to get tricky to remember who is who when we knew so many of the 13 by a different name at some point. Despite this, I think Robert does a great job of trying to remind people who is who without it interfering too much with the action.

This book was so messy and I was here for it!

Aphrodite and Hephaestus enter into a political marriage and then decide to get revenge on each other. Aphrodite gets with Pandora and Hephaestus gets with Adonis. This was messy and chaotic and fun. I will say the overall plot of the series really didn’t get furthered in this book at all which I was pretty bummed about. It really just showed the fallout of Radiant Sin and not much else. Also I felt like Pandora was just kind of left to the wayside. It felt like Adonis, Aphrodite and Hephaestus all had a solid threesome and pandora was just there which I didn’t really love. Additionally this whole marriage came out because Aphrodite felt a duty as a member of the 13 and as a leader of Olympus but then at the end they both renounce their seats on the thirteen so it didn’t really matter. I don’t know that just felt weird to me, they were both so about their seats and positions of power and then both gave them up.

I liked this book in general I just don’t think it needed to be a part of the main series because I don’t really see what it did to further the plot.