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!

FANTASTIC!

my favorite trope in action was just a delight. The morality chain element here the plot reveals the progress of the whole story.

Absolutely obsessed with this series.

3.25 stars

“no one else matters but us. no one has ever mattered but us.”


I thoroughly enjoyed the captivating blend of politics and intrigue in this book, which had me diving headfirst into the story and eager to follow the plot. while I was pleased with the engaging narrative, I did feel that the characters' pasts and relationship’s development could have been fleshed out further. however, I appreciated the steamy and explicit romantic scenes featuring them together, duh.
overall, I found this to be a quick and engaging read that kept me hooked from start to finish. If you're looking for a fast-paced romance with a healthy dose of smut, this book is definitely worth checking out.

many thanks to the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

'Behold, a series that shows no signs of slowing down with this next enthralling instalment in the outstanding Dark Olympus series with a hint of hero, a murderous minotaur, ostentatious obsession & damning destruction. Katee Robert stands out once more with Ariadne and The Minotaur at her side' - The British Bibliophile


Dark Restraint is the seventh book in Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series. A series which follows different sets of main characters from across Greek Mythology, re-telling and re-imagining their stories and who they are told with. It specifically from the beginning highlights the lives, secrets and darkness of its citizens and of the 'Thirteen', taking the names we know who are woven into Greek myth, shaking things up a bit, and breaths new life into familiar names with new stories.

Dark Olympus hit the ground running with a strong, dominating and mysterious opener, Neon Gods, with the God of the underworld himself, Hades, swiftly partnered with his soon-to-be obsession, Persephone. These names we are familiar with for those of us who are already family with both Greek Mythology and the romantic fiction novels about the Gods/Goddesses within. Though as the series title suggests not so subtly, things here get a little darker.

Hades and Persephone didn't stay the main feature for long. Many players stepped up to the fictional stage and soon enough, seven, sinful books have accumulated with equally as so characters. The series so far and their characters are as follows:

💙 Neon Gods (Hades 𝑥 Persephone)
🩷 Electric Idol (Eros 𝑥 Psyche)
💚 Wicked Beauty (Achilles 𝑥 Helen 𝑥 Patroclus)
❤️ Radiant Sin (Apollo 𝑥 Cassandra)
💜 Cruel Seduction (Hephaestus 𝑥 Aphrodite + Adonis 𝑥 Pandora)
🖤 Midnight Ruin (Orpheus 𝑥 Eurydice 𝑥 Charon)
❤️ Dark Restraint (The Minotaur 𝑥 Ariadne)

Katee has kept a list of who is who, and who appears in which book in full, over on her Instagram account. If you'd like to know who will be appearing in book nine and a teaser of book ten, head over there. We're kept fully informed (and again, teased) over there as well as in her newsletter. Highly recommend signing up so you don't miss out on any of the important news.

Fellow readers who have followed where the story started from the early stages when everything was still very much unknown, unseen and remained a complete mystery to those not in the know within the thirteen and their families, will know just how much has changed--rather rapidly to some, slowly to others--, and just how much that was once in the shadows is out there for all to see. The world of those who live within the realm of Olympus, their fate, lies in the hands of those who will either bring total oblivion, a new reign of terror or something else entirely. Who survives? Who will see things through until the end? Those answers lay ahead of us.

Heading into the maze with one pleasurable reward at the centre is none other than The Minotaur himself, accompanied by the amiable Ariadne. Glimpses of these two have echoed their way throughout previous reads in the series, but here is where the baton is handed to them for the next leg of the unprecedented adventures that are set out before them. Nothing is going to be easy, nothing is going to be straightforward, and there's going to be plenty set out to knock them off the path and into the dark abyss.

Being at the mercy of Olympus has never come at a worse time in its history, but that is exactly what has happened to Ariadne after betraying her father and thus as a result, his generous benefactor. Mercy though, is not cheap. In fact, it comes at a hefty price both morally and physically. Agreeing to a sham marriage to none other than Dionysus, Ariadne seals her fate with a man whom her heart and eyes are not set on. The man--or monster--in question who is just that, she lusts for as much as she fears.

Enter, The Minotaur. Not afraid to get his hands dirty--literally--, he would do so as long as the old man kept his word and at the end of all his tasks? HE would be the one to get Ariadne as his reward. She is his endgame. His prize. A person that he believes, and demands, that no one else should have other than himself. He is hers, she is his. They are for each other.

As things gallop along at a speedy pace, so does the budding lust between Ariadne and The Minotaur. Although temped to step through the burning hot flames, Ariadne knows better than to be the one to encourage The Minotaur, for she is most likely to burn rather than raise those flames higher and higher with him. He's done terrible things that deep down in her heart, she knows she cannot forgive him for. No matter that it was in the past, he is the same man now and unlikely to ever change how he operates. Even for her.

Worries, cares and fears fly out of the nearest window when all bets are off, and hands are roaming over one another like the world was set to end in the next moment. Which in Olympus at this moment in time, it very well might just do. Wicked words are whispered and as everything crumbles around them, spilling blood and parting souls from their earthly bodies, they might just let it happen and spend their final moments locked in an apocalyptic embrace.

Though we are this close to the end, there are no signs of things slowing down for the inhabitants of a supposed doomed city, the underworld and those outside of both. Worlds and walls are coming down, and we're sitting on the sidelines watching it all happen. Katee impresses with her immeasurable skill in spinning out a story over several books--longer than a usual series--, keeping us just as hooked now all this way in as we were when things began.

Each new set of characters slots a piece into the greater puzzle, Ariadne and The Minotaur being our latest two added in. Their burning hot, forbidden desires for one another kept things sizzling from chapter to chapter, the lives around them changing but providing clarity with revealed intentions and secrets, and a show of willing to do whatever it takes to put the other piece of your heart first before yourself. Equally matched for one another, fate dealt them a good hand in pairing them. But was it worth it to risk life and limb for your legacy, your loved ones, all for a world that is as deceptive as it has been protective that now lies at risk of being obliterated? We will soon find out.

Calm waters become choppy and unsettled as this leg of the adventure leaves things in a perilous place where if they thought things have been tough before, that they'd paid their dues and fought with all they've got? They're about to think again and must rally up all within them to turn towards the foe and prepare for the upcoming final battle.

Olympus will either fall, or rise and stand tall. Leading us there is not in fact any of the characters who have become major players in this elongated dalliance between life, death and fate, but the mistress of this world's creation, Katee Robert.

I reviewed this as an audio book a little while ago and then was pleasantly surprised to receive the ARC on release day. Super excited to review again.

Olympus is well on its way to imploding in this new instalment of Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series.

Ariadne has left the oppression of her father's household to help the Olympians fight him, but in leaving him, she leaves Asterion behind. Even though they are now on opposite sides neither one can forget the love they have for each other. They have known each other since they were children and the Minotaur (Asterion) has loved Ariadne since the first time he saw her. Their not going to let a little apocalypse get in the way of them being together forever.

These two are so sweet together, which is weird because Asterion is really scary - I mean he has no qualms in killing people, especially if he has to get through them to protect Ariadne. Although they are very different, this pairing just works.

Being able to read the book as opposed to hearing the audio-book presents a different experience, not better or worse, just different. I was able to pause over phrases and absorb more detail. This book focuses a lot on the political intrigue happening in Olympus and characters from previous books show up to become part of the story again, so it's nice to be able to take it all in.

I've scored the book higher than the audio book for this reason, as I discovered and enjoyed more of the book by absorbing it through my eyeballs.

I received an ARC of this audio book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m gonna be very honest and say that I have not read the previous book. so that was 100% my fault, but I felt like there were parts that I was super confused about because of this. I did enjoy the story and the main characters. There was a lot of things that happened in the book but at the same time I felt like nothing really happened. It was just spice and hiding and spice and hiding. That was just my personal opinion obviously of what I saw.

Another great addition to the Dark Olympus series. This instalment continues the over-arching plot line and gives us Ariande and The Minotaurs story. Although the main characters were not my favourite from the series I still enjoyed the storyline and look forward to continuing the series.

This series has become my entire personality and honestly, Katee Robert can do no wrong in my eyes. This absolutely lived up to my high expectations but just fell a little flatter than some of the others in the series. Had I not already been a huge fan of the Dark Olympus series, and read this as a standalone it may have been 5 Stars but it just didn't quite live up to Wicked Beauty or Electric Idol but was still a solid read.

I've said it in some of my other reviews of this series, but the Plus Size representation is so important to me and I'm so happy that Katee didn't just do it in one of these books, but I think this is the third in the series that has had a plus size FMC and I just love her for that.

Okay I'm ready for Sweet Obsession now <3

The continuing saga of Robert's Dark Olympus, this time starring Ariadne and the Minotaur. Well, his name is Estyrian but he's seen as a monster who works for Ariadne's father, Minos. Circe is coming to wage war on New Athens and Ariadne refuses to be a pawn for her father any longer. She makes a deal with the Olympians and agrees to marry Dionysus, but her heart belongs to the Minotaur.
Will they be able to be together and forge their own life? These books should be read in order so that the continuity of the story isn't lost.

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

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

~ Slow Burn
~ Forced Marriage of Convenience
~ Heavy Sexual Tension
~ Morally Grey Characters
~ Mythological Retelling

Summary: Ariadne Vitalis is caught in the dangerous web of Olympus after betraying her father and his powerful allies. To secure her safety, she’s forced into a marriage with Dionysus—a match that offers protection but lacks the fiery passion she’s always craved. The one man who ignites her deepest desires is the Minotaur, a figure from her past whose dark intentions are as irresistible as they are perilous. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Ariadne must navigate the thin line between desire and danger in a world where nothing is as it seems.

What I Loved: Right off the bat, the first chapter had me blushing out of control because of the immediate spice-filled Chapter 1. This book was very interesting, especially as it is my first time reading a Greek mythology retelling and although I have not read the many books before it in the series, I was able to grasp the dynamic of the story very quickly. I was immediately drawn to the intense chemistry between Ariadne and the Minotaur, yes we all love a good love/hate romance. The push and pull of their relationship, filled with dark, forbidden allure, had me hooked from the start. This reimagining of mythological figures within a more current setting was both fresh and captivating. I loved how Ariadne is portrayed as a strong, complex character who is torn between duty and desire. The world-building in this book is immersive, with Olympus coming to life in all its dangerous glory. And let’s talk about the spice—this book definitely turned up the heat with its steamy, tension-filled scenes that perfectly complemented the dark romance vibe. I think if you are new to reading these types of books (retellings of G. Mythology), you should do your research on what the original story or myth is before starting so you aren’t constantly Googling references like I did.

Other Notes: I gave this book a 4-chili spice rating because the romance was undeniably hot, with the kind of edge that makes dark romance so addictive. The story weaves together elements of power, passion, and betrayal, creating a narrative that’s as thrilling as it is seductive. If you love mythological retellings with a modern twist and a hefty dose of forbidden romance, Dark Restraint is a must-read.

Special thanks to the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and the Author, Katee Roberts, for providing a complimentary digital Electronic Advanced Reader Copy (E-ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest, and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

While Ariadne and the Minotaur were not my favorite characters in this series, I loved reading their story. They definitely deserved their moment and Katee delivered. I can't put my finger on why, but their story felt more emotional than most, especially given the overarching plot with war coming to a head. This one was definitely darker than the rest, as we see some characters thriving and others continuing to spiral down. We are also given a glimpse into some side characters that will definitely come out to play more later. The easter eggs were definitely there and juicy.

I keep reading this series because I absolutely adored the first three books. Since the fourth the book have been just okay, but I've been invested in the overarching plot development enough to keep going. Unfortunately, this installment was my least favorite so far, likely due to the dark romance elements that I don't particularly enjoy. While I'll read the next book (let's be honest, probably the rest of them), I would not necessarily recommend this one as a "must read" as I didn't particularly like either of the MCs or how they interacted with each other.

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC through NetGalley.

It is the 7th book in this series and the first I have read (meaning I now have to go back and read the first 6! but I'm not complaining. If they're all as great as this one, I'll be one very happy mumma).

I loved this so much! The story of Ariadne and Asterion was touching, beautiful and frustrating. They love each other so deeply but have never uttered those words to the other. Not knowing exactly how the other felt.

Ariadne thought she was doing the only thing she could do - she ran away, putting a target on her back. This caused the one person who would never harm her intentionally to be tasked with the job of killing her!!

The power of the connection between these two jumped off the page. It was strong and powerful and all consuming. Beautiful and chaotic, dangerous and daring, torturous and tantalising...Magical and perfect!

My heart is open to their story and I've found a new series to dive into!!!

This was an ok quick read for me. At this point in the series, I'm more invested in the political plot line and the potential "fall" of Olympus.
The romance was ok, not my fave coupling of Katee Robert's, but OK. Loved Dionysus. I always love a character that pretends to be non threatening but can always hold their own.

Although I feel like I didn’t connect too much with the main characters the plot has me hooked. The build up to the war and uncovering everyone’s secrets has me flipping through pages too quickly! The Minotaur and Ariadne’s story kind of hits the ground running. They have known each other most of their lives and because of Minos(Ariadne’s father) they never spoke of their growing love towards one another. I would have loved a few more flashbacks on how their love for one another came to be. I love this series has a love story and also a building second story about an upcoming war so we get to see more characters and what they could mean to the ultimate ending of this series. Although this wasn’t a favorite in the series I still enjoyed it and can’t wait for more!