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.

This book was so freaking good and spicy. I loved the romance and tension between Apollo and Cassandra, and I really enjoyed the murder mystery twist in the plot. This world the Katee Robert has created is continuing to expand and I think she is doing a great job doing so. Looking forward to the next one!

The narrators did a fantastic job with this one. I could truly envision themselves as the characters speaking.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This series seriously just gets better and better with each new god and goddess. This story is no exception. Dark, seductive, and deliciously dirty. Robert knows how to blend the perfect about of angst, lust, and violence. Can't wait for the new book.

Overall:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story:
📘📘📘📘
Narration:
🎙🎙🎙🎙️

Another brilliant addition to the Dark Olympus series! I love the pining these two do for each other. Katee Robert knows just how to make them yearn without falling into the “just talk already” category. It’s a fine line and Katee is Queen! Bring on Aphrodite Hephaestus (and Adonis & Pandora)!

I almost wish Katee Robert hadn't started this series off with my favorite Greek mythology couple because this series is just getting better as each book rolls out.
The manly Gods are always perfect and toned and sexy. But I love how she writes her female leads. They're comfortable in their body type and are unapologetic about it. Huzzah for body positivity!

I really do adore this series. The parallels between the modern retelling and the mythology we know and love are perfect. I fully believe the world would be exactly like this if the Gods still walked among us and muddled things up.

This book follows the story of Olympus and I would highly recommend reading the previous books prior to this one.

Overall this book was okay, but I felt like it just kind of dragged. Not a lot really happened and this felt more like a filler book for the next one. Up until the ending I was just kind of bored. With that being said I'm excited for what's to come with the next book in this series.

This is Apollo and Cassandra's story, and while it's the least annoying of the series. I think the narrators made this listening experience a dud.
I found myself not that interested in the romance between them, and instead I just wanted to get to the end to find out what Minos' endgame was.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful continuation of this series! I loved the romance in this book. I love retellings of Greek myths and this book was wonderful.

I absolutely loved Radiant Sin. It was honestly like reading a sexy game of Clue. I loved the plot for this one. While it started a bit slow things quickly picked up once Cassandra and Apollo got to the house party. The murder mystery had great pacing and was filled with so much spice! Cassandra and Apollo had amazing chemistry from the start. What a great way to start my March reading.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Man, I love this universe Roberts has created. Somehow each book just keeps getting better. Throughout the series, Roberts has done an excellent job mixing just enough romance, smut, and actual plot, and this one had much more world-building and drama than some of the others. I really enjoyed Apollo and Cassandra's love story and the lower burn of this story as an addition to the rest.

I can't wait to keep reading! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read early.

Katee Robert knocks it out of the park again with this book! I’m a huge fan of discovering the world of Dark Olympus and each book gives us a little more to go off of and different perspectives, which I love. I was definitely looking forward to Apollo’s story as the ‘spymaster’ of Zeus. However I was left wanting because he did not live up to my expectations. He was still a great character and the romance between him and Cassandra was good, I just expected more. We do get to see more of the politics of Olympus and get more of behind the scenes, which had some interesting reveals.

This book is also the one I would call the least spicy (in comparison to the other books in this series) and very slow-burn, which I do not prefer slow-burn. I can read that and still enjoy it, but it isn’t my favorite. I’m definitely looking forward to Cruel Seduction and can’t wait to read it!!!

Oh man okay book 4 in the Dark Olympus and the book politics and world building are really ramping up in the best way possible. The events of the books are starting to bleed into each other, the conclusion of one impacting the beginning of the next. I love how the time just between Wicked Beauty (#3) and Radian Sin is about three weeks meaning the events of the trials are fresh. While the characters from Wicket Beauty aren't active participants of this book, their presence is there as we see the political drama unfold in the background of the romance between Cassandra and Apollo. And yes, the romance is still squarely the forefront of the story but the drama adds some delightful spark and mystery to the story.

I loved how the myth of Cassandra was adapted for this story. It's not adhering to the original myth of her becoming a clairvoyant whom no one believes but aspects of that story are relevant to the plot. No more on that because if you're familiar, you'll definitely be able to figure out the story. Other characters like Minos, Theseus, the Minotar, Ariadne, and more are part of the story in some minor capacity which makes for a fascinating concoction. Most of the characters are lined up in future books meaning their stories get more prominence there but it was cool to see how the seeds of those upcoming stories were planted not only in this book but back in the first book as well.

Yes these books are primarily smut and romance, a delicate balance that makes the romantic erotica subgenre, but the incredibly well thought out and planned world building and greater series plot makes this series INCREDIBLE. Can't wait for the rest of these books.

*peeks through fingers pressed over eyes* The whole series is losing its way.

Look, I'm committed to these books. I'm four in and I intend to see it through to the end. Or until we get Zeus and Hera--but that's not the point! What is the point is that I enjoy these silly books for what they are and am curious to see where this goes. However, I am concerned that the entire series is not sure what it's doing. With the introduction of these threats from outside of Olympus, the books are stepping outside of standalone territory, and after two meh books in a row, I'm not sure Robert can pull it off. Not to mention these are veering dangerously far from being called retellings outside of character names.

This was my least favourite book of the bunch. There just wasn't any sort of plot for me to dig into for a murder mystery dinner party premise when there should have been. Guests are going missing, others hate Cassandra, others don't trust Apollo, the host and his gaggle of children are mostly murderous psychos, and this is a house with all sorts of secret passages and hidden rooms. And aside from one big betrayal, nothing really happened. This could have been so fun and instead everyone is confined to their rooms or lumped into groups to play silly little parlour games.

I'm also beginning to get annoyed by how similar every POV is in this series. The voice appears to be the same across every single character. I noticed it with the third book and its three POVs, and it happened again here. Apollo and Cassandra were completely indistinguishable to me. It makes for an easy read, yes, but it's also probably why Robert can put one out every six months. I need more depth to these characters and what's worse is that the opportunities are there to dive in and flesh them out, but the characters never get there because everything dissolves into sex.

And yeah, this was the most disappointing in terms of steam from Robert. It felt like the same three scenes repeated. For a couple into kink and BDSM, it was pretty darn weak and barely dipped its toe into that pool of potential. Everything that occurred in the story was just an excuse for them to f*ck with their sudden revelation that they're both into each other after years of pining, and that kind of sucked when this was a book where we actually needed room to build out this bigger story Robert is attempting to carry through the series.

Considering there are four main characters in the next book, and likely four POVs, I have a suspicion I won't enjoy it as much as I did the first two books. But I'm committed to it now I guess.

How did I miss this astounding series so far? The world building is astonishing, unbelievably good! Maybe a tad complicated, but you can figure it out without too much difficulty reading this book. Which by the way makes for a good standalone if you didn’t read the previous books, just like me. All ancient Gods are there, but their new versions are hot, intriguing, modern, but surprisingly faithful to the Greek myths. I was intrigued by many of the characters and I loved the main ones of the book, especially Apollo, so hot, so kind, so honorable, so in love, forceful in bed and gentle in life. And I loved bright and smart Cassandra with her curvy body and wicked mouth. I listened to the audiobook, courtesy of Netgalley and Dreamscape Media, and I really loved the narrators, especially the female one. I think I’ll look up the previous books, especially in the audio version!

I like RADIANT SIN a lot! This was a solid installment in Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series. Cassandra and Apollo are a sweet couple and I enjoyed their romance. I was surprised by how much plot and political drama was included in this, but it was overall well executed. Can’t wait to continue this series!

An absolutely smashing, fun adventure! I love Katee Robert, and this series continues to delight in its imaginative retellings of Greek mythology.

Radiant Sun was full of steam and chemistry, and I loved the journey. I would follow this series for 30 books, each one is just as good as the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Radiant Sin, by Kate Robert, had me enthralled from the first word. Fantastic narrator, complex characters, interesting mythos. You don't want to miss out on this fantastic read.