Number five in this series of retelling mythology. Romance with erotica elements that can be read as a stand a lone. Both narrators have done three entire series and that is partially why I keep coming back. I love them! I was very interested in the MMFF storyline, and I was surprised there wasnt as much spice like the previous books in this series. While I enjoyed this one, it wasn't my favorite of the series. I will definitely continue on because it is a really fun/entertaining series!

3.5⭐️ 3.5🌶️ 5🎧

I’m not going to lie, I was terrified of this book as soon as Katee described it as an open poly knot. I generally like my books to have closed, committed relationships, no matter how many people are in that relationship. It doesn’t help that I’m still reeling from how uncomfortable the bonus epilogue of Wicked Beauty made me. But I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

This book was so messy and spicy! I can’t help but feel the Greek gods would have approved. This book was pretty heavy on the spice and light on the plot for a good portion of it. Not that I’m complaining.

I love a good enemies to lovers, arranged marriage book and oh man were Aphrodite and Hephaestus enemies. But I loved how they brought out a softer side of each other and how their feeling took them completely by surprise. I also loved seeing the four of them together. It all really worked.

What I didn’t love about this book was how Aphrodite treated Adonis and how Hephaestus treated Pandora. Aphrodite was too cavalier with his feelings. I couldn’t believe that after becoming Hephaestus, he didn’t remove Pandora from Minos’ household when he knew how she felt. Aphrodite was a better friend to Pandora than Hephaestus and Hephaestus was a better friend to Adonis than Aphrodite.

The plot didn’t really pick up until end of the book and while I anticipated one of the plot twists the second took me completely by surprise! I loved it and I cannot wait to see what this means for the next book in the series.

I loved the narrators for this book. I could happily listen to them for hours!

This book is one of my favorites in this series! I loved the relationships of the four main characters. This book had it all. Great conflict. Very spicy scenes. Suspense. Danger. Great characters. I enjoyed the narrators. They brought this story to life. Another winner in this fun series.

As always, Katee Robert has an interesting, unique and steamy plot! Loved the mix of partners in the relationship, but I felt like the main relationship between Aphrodite and Hephaestus, who started off in a forced marriage, resolved itself WAY too easily. They were supposedly enemies who hated each other, but that lasted for like one scene. Just felt rushed, and maybe that was part of trying to develop relationship between everyone in their poly relationship. This was a decent read, but not my favorite in the series.

I have some mixed feelings about this one.

To be completely honest I spent most of this book incredibly confused. I didn't realize this book was from 4 different perspectives and the fact that there were only 2 different audio narrators was really throwing me off. Combine that with the fact that every character had two names and I had no idea who was who for most of this book.

What I did understand of the plot line seemed to be very dragged out and the characters and their relationships were not as developed as I would have liked. It did start out really strong though. When the audiobook ended I felt like I had missed something because it didn't seem like anything had really happened.

I think this may be where I end my journey with this series because the last couple books have kind of just felt like filler stories and I really haven't been loving them.

As always I am amazed by katee robert. She writes such amazing books that make you fall in love with the main characters that keep you sucked in and this book was no different.

Katee Robert does not disappoint! Another amazing book start to finish! I love seeing the poly relationship with the perfect mix of Olympus politics. The relationship did not quit go as expected but I loved the direction it took! Give me more Katee Robert!

Step aside Taylor Swift, this isn't just a Cruel Summer it's Cruel Seduction Summer! Katee has done it again, the fifth volume in the Dark Olympus series and they just get better every single time. First, I am going to be very honest with you all and say I looked up the tags and trigger warnings before reading and was so confused about what I was going to be reading about. I had no idea what a Poly Knot even meant but I was intrigued to find out and was not disappointed.

This story can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. Cruel Seduction is all about Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Adonis and Pandora and how their relationships with each other grow and evolve while dealing with the threat that has come to Olympus. The story is told from each character's POV at one point and I found each of the characters had heart and were distinguishable from each other. I loved how none of the characters wanted to be with each other in the beginning and slowly fell into lust and then grew into loving and becoming a found family of sorts.

I think one of my favorite parts was certain characters not realizing their feelings and were like, "What is this feeling in my chest? must be heartburn. 🙃" The relationships just played so well together and truly felt like each one of them contributed equally to not only the book but their dynamics in the book as well.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book, narrated by Alex Moorcock and Zara Hampton-Brown. These two have done the full series to-date alternating chapters by POV between Aphrodite and Hephaestus, female and male. I have loved them each time and they really make each character across the entire series feel different and distinct.

🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 5 out of 5 Peppers

Final Thoughts: Not my favorite (Neon Gods will never be beat) but still a show stopper, a wonderful continuation of the overall story and I will always be the first in line to praise and push this book onto anyone who wants to read it.

TW: Explicit sex, attempted murder, murder, violence, blood, child abuse (historical, non-graphic), attempted sexual assault (historical, off-page)

Disclaimer: Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Cruel Seduction is the 5th book in Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series. I have been following the books and doing buddy reads of them with my BFF, so I was really excited for the release of this one.

In Cruel Seduction, Aphrodite and Haephesuts (previously Theseus) marry and the story follows/focuses on them as they navigate marriage, jealousy, love, romance, and polyamory. The build-up for this book was really climactic, and I have enjoyed seeing how the storyline has progressed throughout the books. The changing titles (Legacy Titles) and family tree is still a bit confusing to me because it doesn't follow the traditional structure of the Greek Gods--but I think that is what makes this such a unique retelling. The world-building of this series is very grand, and there are deliberate changes made to the political structure of the Gods that I have enjoyed trying to puzzle out.

I am so excited for the next book in the series and can't wait for more from Katee Robert!

This book was a very steamy, fun addition to the series! This story went in a direction I was not expecting, but really enjoyed. Each of the characters had heart and were distinguishable from each other, which was good, as this was told from 4 points of view. Each book in this series builds upon the world of Olympus and the politics of it and that part continues to be fascinating. While this wasn't my favorite in the series, I still had a fun time reading it and cannot wait for the next book!

A Tale of Passion, Seduction, and Intrigue in Olympus

Katee Robert’s “Cruel Seduction” is at least for this reader a long-awaited addition to the Dark Olympus series that continues to captivate readers, such as myself, with its mix of excitement, intrigue, and passionate relationships. Yes, that was relationships, with an s. You may be saying that February to August isn’t that long, but for some of us, 6 months seems like forever. This book delves into the complexities of power dynamics and emotions as Aphrodite and Hephaestus, two members of the thirteen, enter into a marriage of convenience. Then the games begin.

What sets this installment apart is the polyamorous relationship dynamic among the main characters, a daring and refreshing choice that adds depth and complexity to the story. The tangled emotions, shifting allegiances, and intense connections between Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Pandora, and Adonis make for a riveting read. The characters’ growth and transformation are skillfully woven into the narrative, especially as they confront societal expectations and their own shifting personal agendas.

The mythological retelling continues to provide a rich backdrop, and the world-building remains vivid and immersive. The chemistry between the four main characters sizzles on the pages, particularly in the “I hate you but am so attracted to you” moments that are both tantalizing and emotionally charged, and I’m not talking about just between Aphrodite and Hephaestus.

Katee Robert masterfully crafts a narrative that balances intricate political maneuvering with steamy romance, resulting in a book that’s hard to put down. “Cruel Seduction” is a testament to the author’s ability to keep readers engaged with its multifaceted characters and a plot that leaves you yearning for more. This installment not only lives up to the expectations of the series but elevates it with the exploration of polyamorous relationships, making it a must-read for fans of mythology, romance, and intricate power plays.

I can not wait to see what Katee Roberts has up her sleeve for her next story, Midnight Ruin, but alas, I will have to wait until the end of January to learn more.

Before I go let’s give a shoutout to Katee Robert, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing a gifted digital review copy of the Audiobook, allowing readers like me to immerse themselves in the enchanting story of Dark Olympus as told by narrators Alex Moorcock and Zara Hampton-Brown. Thank you!

"Cruel Seduction" is a story where the characters' intense desires take center stage, leading to surprising interactions and complex bed positions.
Some of the relationships feel unrealistic to me, such as how Adonis’ heartbreak over Aphrodite’s marriage to another man for political reasons is suddenly replaced with his instant-attraction to her husband.
The narrative focuses on everyone’s explicit desires toward each other which feels a little forced and a little too fast in my opinion. All of the characters are bisexual, polyamorous, and inexplicably horny all of the time.
However, the book's redeeming quality lies in the intense dynamics between Aphrodite and her husband.
Amidst the passionate entanglements, I am surprised by the ending, which deviates from my expectations, despite the story's tendency toward explicit themes and its direction, there is in-fact no foursome.
I was really hoping to love this book, given how much I enjoyed others in this series. Regrettably, it didn't resonate with me as I had hoped.

Themes: instalust / instalove, cheating

I’m struggling to actually form full thoughts about this one beyond ‘omg I loved’, but I really did. This one is making its way to the top to be tied for my favorite book of the series. I love the side of Aphrodite that we got to see and I literally fell in love. She is my new favorite character and I’m hoping we get more of her and the other three characters focused on in this one. What really sold me on this book was Aphrodite and her personality as a whole. She is really a complex and amazing character despite her past actions. I loved seeing more of the family dynamic between her Zeus and Helen.

Romance wise this was phenomenal. I got everything I wanted and except one scene (which I could live without I’m so happy about the rest.), but I was literally melting from the audiobook with this one. It was that good 🥵

📚rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
spice — 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Katee Robert is phenomenal at what she does. The spice is amazing. It’s Aphrodite so of course it is but oh it’s so much more. I read this in a day, less than maybe 8 hours. It’s so easy to devour, because it’s nearly impossible to put down.

The narrators are amazing and made it so impossible to put down.

ARC REVIEW. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook.

WOW~ It's always fun to jump back into the Dark Olympus world! It's always a guaranteed good time as you dive into another one of the complicated lives of the Thirteen. This time around, we get to see into the world of the forced marriage between Aphrodite and the new Hephaestus. Not only are we delve into this deliciously messy tangle of games between these two opposing characters, but we also see the plot in the background regarding the impending fall of Olympus.

My favorite thing so far about this series overall is how easily you can latch on to the new characters and their story. Reading/listening to this book felt like watching a new season of a highly anticipated show. It flawlessly picks up from the last few books and I enjoy the antics, storyline, and characters even more!

*very grateful for the arc but all thoughts are my own!*
I mean, it's a Katee Robert book. Of course, it was amazing. They KNOW how to write good dark romances. I loved this whole book, seriously. The relationship dynamics between the four of them were so good and so complex and the way the relationships grew and changed between them throughout the book was just perfection. The relationships between the four of them were also just so well done and each person had their own separate and unique relationship with each of the others, it was amazing. I wasn't sure how I was going to like this book after meeting some of these characters in the previous book, but I worried for nothing. I loved all the characters so much. They were so three-dimensional and complex with wildly different individual personalities, conflicts, wants/needs, etc. (also, not to pick favorites, but I think Pandora is my favorite). I had such a fun time reading this whole book, like, the way all the characters are conflicted about how they feel until the very end, yet they still care for each other even when they're convinced they do or should hate each other?? Yes. Please. ANDDD the ending?? Completely unexpected (to me at least), but holy cow, I loved it. I didn't think either of them would ever do it, but honestly, it's so fitting for them. Loved it so so much. Highly recommend!!!

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. Love the back and forth narration between Aphrodite and Hephaestus!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

Another great continuation of the Neon Gods series! The plot thickens as assassination attempts cause Olympus to go into chaos and everyone second guesses their trust in those closest to them. I appreciated how both narrators made effective choices to highlight the different POV chapters. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

4.5
I think this may be my favorite of the series so far. The characters are so interesting and really work all together. Each pairing has their own relationship, not necessarily romantic, that works to an extent but all together they work so well.
I love the drama that is the political intrigue surrounding Olympus and I can’t wait to read what happens next.
I listened to the audiobook and it was so good. Each voice is unique and easy to follow. Increasing the speed didn’t make it unrecognizable and it was still easy to understand. I highly recommend this.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book, The narrators were both really talented and gave each character a distinctive voice that was somehow just what I expected them to be. Plotwise, this book did a lot of laying out of the groundwork for the next book. The external stakes were rather low in this, but their personal/internal stakes were higher in this than the other books in the series. I was less invested in the characters, this may be because there were so many of them, but despite having 4 main characters, each were pretty well developed with fleshed out back stories and everything. I would say I felt the least amount of time was spent on Adonis, but other than that you get pretty well explained rationales to each person's actions. Another great book from Katee Roberts, with really good narrators for the audio version!!

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!