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!

Thank you NetGalley for granting my wish.

This wasn't my favorite book in her series.

Enjoy

I loved how this book moved the plot along, I love how more developed it gets with each book in this series and I can’t wait for things to finally come to a head in these last few books! I really liked Ariadne and The Minotaur together. Who doesn’t love a man who’s not only obsessed but also only soft for his woman! I can’t wait for the other books especially Hera and Hermes!

If you want a simple dark romance that’s an easy read, Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series is a great place to go. But don’t expect complex character development. This is all fluff and spicy romance. I would also recommend starting at book one. She does not do a good job providing exposition, and the number of characters can be extremely confusing by the time you get to book 7 if you’re not already prepared. Like all the other books in the Dark Olympus series, this has great spice and is action-packed, particularly at the end. A fun world to lose yourself in for an afternoon.

OKAY. So. I was super excited going into this one. And overall, it didn't disappoint. BUT I think it's getting harder and harder the further we get into this series. The plot isn't necessarily too complex or difficult, it's more that there wasn't enough to hold my interest at times.

Did I enjoy it? Yup! Would I recommend this/this series? obviously. Especially for anyone with an interest in mythology.

I was granted an early arc to review. I am truly grateful for that opportunity.

Dark Restraint is number 7 in the Dark Olympics series. It follows the story of the newcomers who are aiming to bring down the 13 and take their place.

One of our main characters, Ariadne is sweet, shy, and use to being a pawn for her family. One day in the maze and she throws it all away to give in to the attraction and desire she has for the “Minotaur”…yet even that has consequences. Forced to turn to her enemies and sell her family out, she does what she needs for freedom and safety. Even if it means exchanging one cage for another.

Our other main, Minotaur (Asterion) is the hitman for Ariadne’s Father. Asterion is nothing more to him then throw away and weapon. That’s all everyone sees, except Ariadne, the forbidden desire and attraction had grown throughout the years. Asterion will destroy anyone and everyone except her.

Together they must fight the politics, the families, and did I mention Ariadne’s impending marriage as part of her arrangement for safety.

Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, abortion, child abuse

Omfg this one was SO GOOD. I loved everything about it. Great balance between the couple, their story, the overarching plot, and setting up for the future books. Definitely one of my favorites in the series.

Thanks Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC.

Releasing 6th August.

2⭐
2🌶

Was not for me. I felt the relationship between Ariadne and Asterion was rushed and lacked a build up. The main characters had no personality and the book had minimal storyline.
I havent read any of the Olympus books but dont think i will even bother after this one.
Surprisingly not much smut for a Katee book 🤣

Katee Robert books are endlessly entertaining. I do wish this one had more plot in it, we moved maybe an inch plot wide and I got really bored about the border wall thing let me tell you.

As always with Katee, the spice was spicing and I loved the forbiddeness of it all.