This is a nice continuation of the story with Minos staying after the previous book's Aries competition. With this new development, the book did feel more like a mystery, who-done-it type rather than just a plain romance which is a nice change of pace. This feels more like a transitional book, moving from the individualistic, stand-alone first books into an interconnected plot-heavy direction. I think it will be fun and enjoyed the journey of seeing more of the characters and getting to know people outside of the 13.

I also didn't get to listen to this one as quickly as the others because I was traveling but I think that might have increased the appeal for me. This is a slow-burn boss/employee longing for each other for YEARS kind of romance. They both wanted to date but didn't want to make it awkward for the other person, we love to see the consent!

I enjoyed the smutty scenes but could have done with more of them. There seemed to be more plot and less romance which is good but I have come to love Katee's writing for her scenes. But I will say that the scenes we did get were hot, Hot, HOT!

🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 5 out of 5 Peppers

Trope: Fake Dating, boss/employee, plus-sized heroine, one bed, bondage, soft Dom

TW: Body shaming (referenced briefly, historical), murder, blood, guns, boss/employee relationship, explicit sex

Final Thoughts: This felt like the board game Clue and a Rom-Com had a baby, enjoyable if you have read the rest of the series but I would not start here.

I love this series! This is about Apollo and Cassandra. This was the audiobook version and had dual narrators and therefor dual POVs. The male narrator could’ve been a little less stilted, but was overall good narration.
She’s been his assistant for years and has been in love with him for a long time. He’s also had feelings for her, but hasn’t wanted to act on them since he felt it would make her feel obligated to date him.
Apollo is such a sweet, caring man and is probably the most ethical of the 13. Cassandra is snarky and has an attitude, but I loved her! She didn’t put up with anyone causing her grief.
The overall story has continued. Minos has come into the city and wants to stay. They are on a mission to figure out what he’s up to before it’s too late.
There’s mystery and action and a lot of sexy times to get your blood pumping! A great overall story and I can’t wait to see what happens with the Olympians next!
I received an arc for my honest review from Netgalley.

While not my favorite in the series, this definitely moved the overall plot forward. It was a nice change to have a main character who was not one of the members of the Thirteen, or their relative. And I always love a prickly FMC, so I enjoyed Cassandra quite a bit. That being said, Apollo felt really flat to me. I just did not get much character development from him at all. And the male narrator had a really thin, reedy voice that did not align with how he was described.
I will not post these spoilers in my public review, but I want to note that it thoroughly annoyed me how the climax played out. It seemed like such a cop out. Like, the Minotaur gets knocked out but still manages to wake up and say this long script to Cassandra who does nothing to stop him from speaking, like knock him back out or put something in his mouth? And she doesn't even deny being his witness? I mean, who's going to be believed by the residents of Olympus???
At the end of the book, what I am really left wanting is more Hermes.

I've enjoyed this series, and have found how much I love a mythology retelling.

RADIANT SIN is the fourth book in the Dark Olympus series, which tells the story of Apollo and Cassandra, with a modern twist, and I loved their chemistry! It features a fake dating and forced proximity trope which are two things I really enjoy in my romance.

I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding this love story, and its been such a fun escape read! I would recommend the audiobook to those who love this reading format.

*many thanks to Dreamscape Media and netgalley for the gifted copy for review

It was a ok story. There were some major character and world building issues for me. Apollo is “hot” but lacking in personality. Exactly what Cassandra has been in love with? Also Cassandra’s constant “I’m an outsider” shtick made no sense. She was born and raised into a prominent family. They never explained how she went from rich to poor. But she spent her adult life working for a member of the 13, around high society because of her job, dated another for a good amount of time. She never left.

I still don’t get “Olympus”. There’s no magic and they’re not gods. I did miss a few books so maybe it’s explained but I would consider this a standalone story so some reiterating would’ve been good. Why exactly are they isolated from the world? How long have the been isolated? How are they so rich considering it's a city state. What exactly are they exporting that justifies the level of goods they are receiving from the outside world? How exactly would currency exchange work and what is the value of their money in the real world? How can a Apollo be Korean and Swedish when they been isolated? What ethnic groups were allowed in and have they held onto their cultures aside from giving their kids Greek names? Where in the world exactly is Olympus? What year is it?Why of all the Pantheon's did the founders choose that one? I could go on, I find it frustrating that so many things are casually mentioned but there is no explantation of how this isolated place functions. Especially since now a outsider was able to come in and establish himself and his family as upper echelon with outside world money. And Cassandra just figures she can go out into the world and function. I may read another book, but the need to suspend logic without providing context makes it difficult to lose myself in the story.

This series is definitely starting to grow on me.
I love mythology, and I love mythology with a modern twist.
The back story of Olympus being under attack is really starting to get going and we saw big strides in this book.
Excited to see what will come next.

Oh, I absolutely adored this book. I will admit it took a little bit of time, but once I got into it, it was so addicting.

I will say I didn’t realize that it was a sequel. Not that I think you need to read the other ones to understand what’s going on.

Apollo and Cassandra obviously had great chemistry right away even though neither one wanted to admit it I loved that it was fake dating and one bad tropes and there wasn’t too slow of a burn. It was very well paced.

I would highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read the other ones.

This fourth installment of the series deviates from the expected pace and plotting of the others that readers of the first three books will be scratching their heads. First of all, the pace is much slower right until the end where everything wraps up so quickly that you're left unsure of what's happening. It's sexy and steamy but in a much reduced capacity, but still queer and safe, with respect for all parties involved. And, finally, this is the kicker- it's a closed room/house murder mystery. Seriously.

Excellent audiobook narration. Perfect for hands-free enjoyment.

This is the fourth book in the Dark Olympus series and focused on Apollo and Cassandra.
I’m going to keep this review short because this one didn’t hit as hard as its predecessors and especially not the first book of the series. It centres around the fake dating trope, and features a “trapped together” extended party, which gave it a great premise to start with. However, this book could have moved along quicker. I loved the heroine—as Cassandra is outside (and has a very realistic impression) of The Thirteen, her reactions to their goings-on were a nice change of pace versus some of the prior books’ main characters. Apollo was lovely, a smitten sweetheart with some spice, but otherwise kinda boring. Still a great story, just not as good as the others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶

3.5 ⭐️

This was decent. I’ve complained in the past about books in this series having too much smut and not enough plot and I found this book leaned in the opposite direction. For a book that literally has “dark” in the series title I found this a little tame; both in smut and in plot.

This book follows Cassandra and Apollo. Cassandra is working as Apollo’s assistant but desperately wants to escape the city. She strikes a deal with Apollo and Zeus that in exchange for going to a week long party with Apollo as his fake date Zeus will give her enough money for her and her sister to get out of the city and start a new life.

I would hesitate to actually label this a “fake dating” book because it was such a minor plot point but I do like the boss/employee romances where they’ve always kind of had a thing for each other and the fake dating pushes them to see it. I did enjoy this book enough that I will continue on with the series but I did find it had a little bit of that “middle book” vibe to it.

The audiobook narrators were good. I usually have to slow down the speed a lot when the narrators have accents but these two were clear enough that I was still able to listen at 2.5x speed.

Overall, it was enjoyable and I’m looking forward to the next one!

Katee Robert is AMAZING! I can read her world and fall deeply in love with the characters from the very beginning.

Cassandra is plus-sized (always a good thing in my eyes when the MC is thicc) and an outcast. Her parents attempted to assassinate one of the 13 when she was a child. They were killed and she was openly shunned. But now she’s the secretary to Apollo and ex to Hermes (in this iteration, Hermes is female).

Apollo is sexy AF! Think business man Henry Cavill… well he’s a specimen and nerdy, so all Male MC’s in books are Daddy Cavill to me!

He needs a date for the public to see and someone to bring to a week long party with him, so he proposes an arrangement with Cassandra that’s beneficial to both of them. He gets a beautiful woman to accompany him, who has incredible intuition and sees things that others don’t, and she gets enough money to get herself and her sister out of the city.

They both end up getting a whole lot more than they bargained for when Minos’ party isn’t exactly what he’s made it seem to be.

You can expect a whole lot of HAWT sexy times!!! I love that all of Katee’s characters are queer (unless otherwise stated in the book). We need more authors to make their characters sexual fluid, because that reflects our world now. I love it! I love her! I love her books!!!!!

I absolutely love me some Katee Robert!!! This whole series has been so fun and an enjoyment to read! I love these books particular set of characters. Their chemistry... ooof!

My first audiobook and absolutely loved it!! Katee Robert can write the most captivating retelling books and this book does not disappoint!! The plot, characters, romance, spice, and audiobook tellers was perfectly executed!!!

I'm totally hooked by this series. Every book is better than the last. The narrators are fantastic and did a great job of acting out their parts. I really loved their story, although there was ALOT of plot going on with the side characters and set up for the future books. All in all great entertaining read.

I really love this series by Katee Robert so obviously I had to get my hands on Radiant Sin!
Let's get right to the spice!
It was enjoyable but it didn't leave me as hot and bothered as Neon Gods or, extra spicey, like Wicked Beauty did. The oral scenes were pretty sexy though.
I did love the chemistry between Apollo and Cassandra. He definitely became one of my favorite male main characters from this series.
What I did enjoy a lot in this book, a lot more than I did with the others, was the intriguing political parts. I was really wondering what Minos was up to and it kept me making assumptions about what is really going on, and who is really behind everything?
Can't wait for the next book!

Well Hades and Persephone will always be my absolute favorite couple but this book is now my favorite of the dark Olympus series. So many little nods to the lore of green mythology that I LOVED so much! Also the series story is picking up and I have no idea where it’s heading but I’m loving how it’s going! Great book love the spice also!

I will read any retelling that Katee Robert puts together. I mean the storyline, the characters, everything simply jumps off the page. I felt like by book 4 I'd be bored but I couldn't be more wrong. Stunning writing every single time. And the SPICE!!!! I LOVE it!

In this fourth book in the Dark Olympus series, we get the stories of Apollo and Cassandra. Cassandra's parents tried to overtake their role in the 13 by killing one of the current members. This got them killed and turned their daughters into social pariahs. Now in order to escape Olympus, Cassandra works as Apollo's personal assistant so she can pay for her sister's schooling and to obtain a way to leave Olympus once and for all. Cassandra has secretly been pining for Apollo for as long as she worked for him but had a strict rule to not get involved with any of the 13. Apollo has been slowly falling for Cassandra for years but did not want to overstep his power. Minos and his family turn all of Cassandra and Apollo's plans upside down. Invited to a week-long party at Minos' house (which used to be Hermes' house), Apollo decides to take Cassandra with him for an additional set of eyes to work through what might be going on. Cassandra refuses but Zeus pushes her into accepting by offering money and a way out of Olympus. She agrees but the close proximity to Apollo proves to be more than either can handle. Eventually, they figure out Minos' game albeit too late and decide that with the coming darkness that they are going to need each other. Cassandra also realizes her sister is happy in Olympus and that her happiness might just be there too. It was an enjoyable listen and the narrator did a great job.

***March 5, 2023 - Review of Complete book***
4.25/5🌟
Plot 4.25/5 | Characters 4/5 | Romance 2/5 | Spice 3/5 | Writing 4.75/5 | Audiobook 5/5

This series is 🔥🌶️❤️😊🌶️❤️😍

What I loved: ❤️Friends to lovers,❤️workplace romance❤️forced proximity❤️SMART AND CURVY FMC❤️ mystery plot ❤️sub/dom❤️SPICE❤️

There was so much to like in this book. It felt like a "whodunnit" twist on the novel that is unique in this series. There was sexual tension, plot tension and just overall tension in general but in the delicious way that Katee Robert seems to be the absolute master of. It felt like a cross between the game clue and a great murder mystery where everyone is a suspect with hidden motives and the MCs seem to be pawns in a a much larger game. Cassandra was such a rockstar FMC, it's easy to fall in love with her as a reader. She is strong and independent and smart as hell. Not to mention curvy and sassy. A complete package. Apollo is also smart and handsome and clearly the "nicest" or most honest member of The Thirteen, so it is also as a reader to fall in love with him....
BUT.....
and it kills me say this, he felt like the weakest part of this whole novel. I love that Katee Robert's men are dangerous and morally grey and his character seems a little to harmless for my taste. I can appreciate that Robert is trying to make a diverse cast in Olympus so not every face is the same and that definitely makes this magical world more believable but, I can't quite put my finger on it. More than him feeling a little too harmless was the fact that he was trailing behind a little too much in this book. As basically the head of information and spy-master in Olympus, he really and truly sucked at his job this entire book. There was no bone thrown his way at all. Sure, I agree that Cassandra should have been written as a smarter character but Apollo didn't show his cunning or cleverness at all in the ways I was hoping he would. Still, definitely Book Boyfriend material 😍

The plot itself was super fun and suspenseful. I would have liked to seen more happen either at the party or the before and after part, but that could also just be my insatiable appetite for the Dark Olympus novels and/or anything that Katee Robert's writes. It ended exactly like how I thought it would and at the same time, not at all like I thought it would, but I don't want to give spoilers, so that is all I am going to say about that.

The audiobook narrators were phenomenal *chef's kiss* perfection.

If you have been enjoying this series, this book is unique from the rest in the mystery department and yet a fabulous addition to an already great series. If you haven't read any Dark Olympus yet, WTF are you waiting for?!?! Clear your entire schedule and be prepared for anything.

* I was SO LUCKY to be provided with an ARC of this novel from Netgalley after praying and hoping I would. My review is honest and entirely my own opinion***

This is a retelling of the story of Cassandra and Apollo. Cassandra is the disgraced daughter who's parents tried to assassinate Zeus and Appolo has taken her under his wing and employed her and lusted after her for years but since she is his employee has not done anything about that lust. That is until now. He asks her to join him at a retreat as his plus one where, of course, she will be his girlfriend and they will have to prove to everyone they are actually a couple. Since he has always wanted this and she has been secretly in love with him, this is no hardship. However, there is so much political intrigue going on who has much time for shenanigans. Of course, they find time. I enjoyed this in audio and love the narration.