I was beyond excited to be able to get an advanced copy of this! I recently became hooked on myth meets plot meets smut and this did not disappoint!
I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series will be like! <3

🧜🏻‍♀️ 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 🧜🏻‍♀️
𝐴𝑅𝐶 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 | 𝖱𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝖣𝖺𝗍𝖾: 𝖳𝖮𝖣𝖠𝖸

Is this my new favorite of the series? I feel like I say that with each release! 🫠 But this time I mean it…well until the next in the series comes out and I say it again!

We got to see a bit more of Ariadne towards the end of the previous book but getting to meet her officially was great. It made me absolutely wish Minos would get hit, mean girls style, by a bus even more than I already did! And the Minotaur, which I LOVED that only Ariadne calls him by his true name, Asterion. Not to mention how they truly met when they were younger.

☆☆☆☆☆/𝟱

✨Book 12 of 2024✨

Rating: 5⭐️

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Format: 📖 e-book

Thank you @sourcebookscasa and @netgalley for an ARC of this book!!

Happy Pub Day!! 🎉

Review:

This is the 7th book in the Dark Olympus and I couldn’t get my greedy hands on this one fast enough, especially after that ending in the last one! Luckily, this book picks up right with the other left off. 🙌🏻

I loved Ariadne and the Minotaur as a couple, even though I hated the Minotaur in the other books he was in. But I guess that was the point. I’m so glad that Katee gave him a redemption ARC.

We really get to see into his head and know the reasons behind the not so great things he has done (which ~spoiler alert~ is mostly because he thinks he has to so he can be with Ariadne).

Their relationship doesn’t start off the best and has its issues, but by the end you can really see how much they love and care for each other. The smutty scenes were 🔥👌(as always).

The plot is plotting in this one! Everything that the other books were building up to comes to light and things go down! I’m so excited to read the next books to see where it goes from here!

Elements:
🍉Kinda friends to more to kinda enemies to lovers
🍉Touch her and d!e
🍉You and me against the world
🍉Forbidden Romance
🍉Assassin and very morally gray MMC
🍉Plus sized FMC

if i'm being completely honest, the politics & general plot development were better than the romance, which was the main focus of the book... didn't love the story or relationship between ariadne & the minotaur, so the book didn't really do much for me.

This book was an absolute thriller and was so delicious to read. It’s tying everything together so sweetly I cannot wait for the next installment!! I never thought I’d like the Minotaur as much I did in this book!! 10/10 and Hermes!!! Omgggg absolutely boss. Cannot wait to see Icarus with Poseidon🥰🥰

The book was fast and easy to read, keeping me engaged from beginning to end. The plot itself was interesting. I liked the world building, politics, and overall learning more about the world.

Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance in this book. While there were some good moments, I wasn’t fully invested in the relationship between the FMC and MMC. Maybe seeing a bit more relationship development between them would have helped. I also would have loved to learn more about their pasts.

I’m interested to see where the story goes next!

Katee said that "Dark Restraint" is their "darkest" book yet. It's a little bit stalker/protector-y but not super dark imo. Spice with a subplot and I love every minute!

I've been all in on Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series since Neon Gods and was so thankful to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of the newest addition to the series, Dark Restraint. I think overall this was maybe my least favorite of the series so far. It has a lot of my favorite things that Robert delivers like great spicy scenes and interesting dynamics while also furthering the world-building but I just wasn't as interested in Ariadne and the Minotaur.

Overall, while the cat-and-mouse relationship between Ariadne and the Minotaur is intriguing, the part of the book that worked the best for me was that world-building. Robert is clearly setting up a big confrontation and laying the pieces for war while giving us hot romances along the way.

I remain ridiculously feral for every scrap we get about Hera and Zeus and cannot be held accountable for the person I will be when we finally get their book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love the Dark Olympus series but this one was a little underwhelming. I had really hoped for more romance, but their chemistry was all written off as previous off-the-page lore. It's hard to jump into spicy scenes without knowing the chemistry between the characters. Also the spicy scenes were far less than in previous books which was also a little underwhelming. I think this book was a hard one to write reguardless since it is about 2 characters who have never been fan favorites and they are working to take down aspects of Olympus that have really grown on loyal readers. This felt like a real work horse of a book and I just didn't feel the spark here that made me love earlier books in the series.

Dark Restraint wasn’t my favorite of the series but it kept me interested enough to see how the plot played out and politics. It felt like a filler but I am looking forward to Icarus and Hera’s books.

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

I haven’t ever vibed with the Minotaur in the previous books, so I already knew it was going to take A LOT to win me over. Sadly, Minotaur never won me over. The smut was alright & the plot was actually stellar! Which I feel like balances the series out well. Katee is also a phenomenal writer. Overall this was a high 3, low 4 for me.

Wow! This book starts off with a bang! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Dark Restraint is the 7th installment of the Dark Olympus series and it centers around Ariadne and Asterion (AKA the Minotaur).First off, if you read the previous book, Midnight Ruin, then you already know what Ariadne is dealing with but if you haven’t definitely check the trigger warnings. In this book, Ariadne is forced to marry Dionysus for political reasons while Asterion spends the rest of the book trying to get her back.

I liked Asterion and Ariadne as a couple and thought that they complimented each other nicely. Asterion is portrayed very badly in the previous books and I was not sure how his redemption arc in this book was going to go. Don’t get me wrong he is still a bad person, but this book delves into his background which lends us some insight into why he is how he is. He has a huge soft spot for Ariande and would do anything for her. Ariadne also had a rough childhood and is still struggling with having freedom and not being someone else’s pawn. She loves Asterion but he is under her father’s thumb just as much as she was. How far will both of them go to break free?

On a macro-level, the series progresses a lot during this book and there is no shortage of political intrigue. If you like this series and/or Greek romance retellings (especially spicy ones 🌶️🌶️🌶️) then I think you will love this book! I cannot wait for the next book!!!

Thank you to Katee Robert for an ARC of this book.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say it before you believe me, sweetheart. This thing between us is never going to end. You and I are written in the stars.”

In a conflict with these kind of stakes, you either come out on top or you come out six feet under. -Hermes

Book 7 in the Dark Olympus series brings us Ariadne and the Minotaur aka Asterion who’s maybe a little bit of a marshmallow 🤯😮- a burnt and crispy one, but still one nonetheless. Lots of “touch her and die” but also calls her “sweetheart” and makes sure she’s fed and has read all her books to find out what she likes… I mean, just read the quote above- the man is smitten! He’s still super rough around the edges and kills people, but for her, he’s a marshmallow. Truly, color me pleasantly surprised!
We begin 10 weeks before the end of book 6 (Midnight Ruin) at Minos’ house party in Radiant Sin (book 4). Ariadne has lived her whole life under her father’s thumb only being valued as a bargaining tool. What her father doesn’t know, is that she’s left information for Apollo which will hopefully help the Olympians. Escaping the fallout from the expected bloodshed at the end of the house party, Ariadne slips into the hedge maze to be alone. When Asterion finds her and admits he didn’t kill one of the Thirteen, like he was ordered to, their mutual betrayal of Minos snaps the final tether keeping them apart. The result of this encounter (pregnant with the knowledge that her father will kill them both) propels Ariadne to the Lower City and into the hands of the Olympians in Midnight Ruin (book 6).
Alone and subject to the whims of the Thirteen, Ariadne finds herself engaged to Dionysus through the suspect planning of Hera. Hera, who we discover is planning a coup and isn’t above using anyone and everyone at her disposal including Ariadne and Asterion, the Minotaur, to achieve her goals. As Minos and Hera’s plans coalesce and the war with Circe grows ever closer, Ariadne and Asterion (who’s been ordered to kill her by her father) find they can’t stay away from each other- and don’t want to. When the wall comes down and with Circe’s fleet at their doorstep, Ariadne and Asterion make their escape.
This book really moved the plot line along, brought some other players to the foreground- ginger headed Poseidon has left his shipyards and is entangled in Hera’s plot along side Dionysus. When the wall falls, Poseidon finds himself with Icarus as a prisoner. (Book 8 is Poseidon and Icarus! 👀👀) Hermes is back and still full of secrets- like how did she know where to place a bomb so the wall would fall?? I can’t wait to find out!
Katee always brings the spice but unlike some of her other books, the spice didn’t overshadow the plot/ wasn’t the whole plot. This felt well balanced between spicy scenes and a storyline which moved the plot of the series forward. Overall I liked this book better than some of the others in the series and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Circe brings with her.

I think this book was a great addition to the series. The plot thickened and I really enjoyed Asterion and Ariadne. I loved their relationship and how possessive he was over her. I am just a sucker for the trope of he will destroy the world for her and he is a tough guy for everyone else but her.

Quick Summary:
This book follows Ariadne after she betrays her dad Minos. This book follows more of the plot of what Minos is planning and how they come closer to bringing down the wall that secures the city. This book also follows the relationship of Ariadne and the Minotaur (Asterion) as they navigate their betrayals to be with each other.

The scenes!!! Katee brought the heat! As I said, I enjoyed the plot because I still can't figure out what side anyone is one. I enjoy the twists that Katee brings to this book as it continues to leave me wanting more. I want to know what is going to happen to all the characters I've been reading about over the years and if they are going to be safe.

4/5 stars for Dark Restraint. Thank you Katee Robert, Sourcebooks and Netgalley for granting my wish and gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was granted a wish from the publisher and netgalley for an arc.

I enjoyed this book in the dark Olympus series, but it isn’t my favorite.

I am really loving how the overarching sub-plot is picking up in intensity. I find myself really wanting to see more of it over the couple and their story.

The relationship in this book was ok for me. I didn’t think they had the chemistry some of the other couples have had. I wished we had gotten a little more of their past together I think that might have helped a bit. The one thing about them that I did kind of like seeing was how they really want out of the life they find themselves in. It is a little different from the others who are far more involved in parts of the world.

I thought I was interesting this was the darkest of the series, but I am not sure I felt that it was. There was violence and death but it didn’t strike me as dark for this series.

This series has been enjoyable and with every book we get closer to the end. While I am sad to see it close I am excited about the other stories we will get!

Overall rating 3.75 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 spice level: ODD open door (very) descriptive language and imagery

As a big fan of Katee Robert and the dark Olympus series I was so excited when this arc landed in my netgalley!

Intrigued by Greek mythology I devoured this book.

The world building that katee has developed is insane! This book being the 7th book in the Olympus series.

This book follows the Minotaur, and Ariadne. Ariadne promised to another groom, the Minotaur is tasked with protecting her. Alas, he wants her all to himself. Ariadne also developing the same feelings. Having to decide between her world and her heart.

I absolutely enjoyed this one and cannot wait for the next instalment!

Thank you Sourcebooks for the ARC!

Ugh. Katee Robert does it again. I adore this series. Too short this time though. I need far more Asterion and Ariadne, in all of their flawed, sexually charged glory.

Excited to see where the series goes, as always.

Dark Restraint Katee Roberts

This became a “hate” read for me soon after the opening sequences. I want to enjoy it, I don’t enjoy it, where is this going, why am I still reading this? I am sure Katee Roberts fans will gobble up this mafia-esque story of a cloistered Ariadne and Asterion, the Minotaur, her father's enforcer and their clandestine relationship.

Having not read books 2-6 of the Olympus series, there was much of the individual characters that went over my head. The only Minotaurian labyrinth I found was that of what felt like incomplete sentences and the kind of politicking that makes Days of Our Lives seem straightforward. For example, the revolving door of the current Thirteen. Who is Ares this week? why does Hera want her husband, the current Zeus dead? The machinations and plot are what held my attention, the relationship of the couple the book centres on less so.

The couple, Ariadne and Asterion, were nothing if not an example of an unhealthy relationship and what a lack of communication will get you until the final chapters. Their smex scenes were positively uncomfortable to read for me. This is very much a taste and preference in the spice I read. .
I appreciate the story having plot but it still felt like filler.

That said, if I have the opportunity, I will be interested to see where Posiedon and Icarus stories go.

My thanks to NetGalley, Source Casablanca books and the author for granting the wish to read this Advanced Reader Copy ahead of publication. All opinions are my own.

This was one of my least favorite installments in the Dark Olympus series. Though the world building continues to be great, the writing was more simplistic than usual and I did not like the main characters. It is difficult for me to really enjoy a book if the main characters don't appeal to me in any way.

I did enjoy the book. The first third was more difficult to get through as there was quite a bit of dubious consent happening (disclosed in the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book). Once the relationship actually took hold the story improved, and there was a little less iffy behavior happening.

I really enjoyed the first few books in this series, but the rest have been a little hit or miss. I'm not sure that I'll like the main characters in the next book either, but I'll just have to wait and see. I'll definitely continue, as I'd like to see where the world is headed. Big things are happening.

All in all, not a great read, but enjoyable to a point.

Another amazing installment in the series. When I first heard Katee was doing Ariadne and The Minotaur, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel, based solely on the state of who they are in Greek Mythology.
I can't lie, the morality chain element of this book had me thriving. We all know Katee cranks her steam level up, and this one doesn't disappoint in that arena. I am now SO PSYCHED for the next book with Icarus and Poseidon. THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH... I want it all, Katee. I want it ALL!!!
In case you can't tell, I Loved it!