This seventh entry into the Dark Olympus series definitely reads more « dark romance » than any other title so far. I really enjoyed this novel, but in particular the last 50 pages were impossible to put down. Dark Restraint sets up the next book in the series so incredibly well, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book #8 when it is available. From the get go of the book, these two characters are simply fated to be together, and are willing to do anything for each others safety.

Katee Robert is one of my favorite authors, and I had devoured this series, each book had me wanting more of the story! I’m definitely not ok and this book hangover will last for a while.

In our opinion, Dark Restraint was aptly titled, as this one was a lot darker than the others. The themes were heavier, and the characters more troubled and complex. We love a good "hate the world but love her" vibe, but the Minotar sometimes pushed it to the obsessive extreme.

We actually really enjoyed how plot forward this one was compared to the previous ones. The political drama kept us on our toes and honestly kept us going when we needed a breather from the two MCs dynamic.

All that being said, we eat up these Dark Olympus books like candy. Whatever Katee puts in them is like crack to us. We cannot WAIT to see what else is up her sleeve for this series 👀

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

After the last book, Midnight Ruin, this book felt like a breath of fresh air. Where the last book felt like a plot vehicle exclusively, to me this one felt like the plot and the romance were deeply entwined, and equally compelling. It's a tough story as well; neither of the main characters have had healthy relationships or role models, and their romance is deeply complicated and will make some people uncomfortable at least. That said, it's made me even more excited for the series to progress as we learn more about the city and previously mysterious characters.

For sensitive readers, there are instances of graphic violence, pursuit, abusive relationships, toxic families, dubious/implied consent, offpage pregnancy termination, and graphic sexuality. One character is mentioned to have had suffered endangerment, starvation, and sexual assault as a child though it is not depicted on page.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Dark Restraint.

I have been a fan of this series from the beginning and love to see the overall drama and story develop from the different POVs as we progress through the series. This book is focused on The Minotaur and Ariadne, who we've seen over the previous books. There were a few lulls in the action, and I found myself skimming some parts, but it picked up again at the end. It was a little jarring for The Minotaur to suddenly have a name and that was throwing me off quite a bit.

Like others check over triggers before diving into this one!

This was probably one of my least favorite Dark Olympus books but I still enjoyed it. The premise and tropes were great. I didn’t like how Asterion was adding further trauma to a poor traumatized girl for a good portion of the book. Like I get that he’s supposed to be the emotionally unavailable brooding love interest, but stop making her think you intend to kill her. I’m invested in this series but it is starting to feel long overall. We’re nearing the finish line though. I plan to read them all.

Holy cow! This was exactly what I was expecting and more! The spice was perfectly balanced with the plot. I’ve never been more excited to wait for the next book drop. Book 7 is definitely going to be hard to beat for my favorite in the series!

Someone is plotting to take Olympus down in a fiery plan of revenge, and no one is safe.
Ariadne Vitalis is certainly not safe, not when Minos is in charge. But the Minotaur, who has longed for her for years, won't stand around as she's married off to someone else.
While Ariadne fights her feelings for the Minotaur and tries to look out for her brother Icarus, danger around Olympus grows by the second.
I enjoyed this installment of the Dark Olympus series, and am already looking forward to the next one!

Probably the darkest romance in Katee Robert’s series so far. Araidne was like a princess locked away in her tower most of her life and then she finally escapes, but it’s not into safety, instead being thrown into politics and intrigue. The Minotaur is assigned by her father to kill her, but little does anyone realize, including Araidne that he's loved her their entire lives.

I enjoyed all the twists and turns of this series, the glimpses at the other characters from the previous books and just the overall romance mixed with the political intrigue wrapped up in a Greek mythology retelling.

The spice 🥵All the scheming is chiefs kiss😘 Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! Posting on Goodreads and a short review on my insta ❤️

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Forbidden love

This series sure is longer than I expected, but goodness knows I don’t regret starting it. This is probably my favorite book in the series since Electric Idol (that’s saying a lot), and the plot developments and cliffhanger at the end?

Yeah, I’ll definitely keep going on to the next book.

I'll be honest: I got this book for the steamy scenes (and YES, they are). But I found myself getting sucked into the story, too. I love mythology and am totally here for the modern-retelling trope that's popular right now. My only complaint is that the names/titles are way too confusing.

The Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert is one of my favourite re-tellings of Greek mythology and this book does not disappoint. It is hot, steamy, and full of anticipation. While the relationship between the main characters, Ariadne and Asterion "the Minotaur" was not my favourite of the series, I think their perspectives offer valuable insight to the larger political story of the series. I also like how much representation Katee Robert includes in her books and how she has characters with a range of different identities and perspectives. Overall, an exciting addition to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next!

This is, unfortunately, my least favorite book of the series thus far. These books have gotten more plot heavy as the series has continued, and this one is certainly the plot-heaviest of them all. So much so that, for me, it really took the focus away from the relationship. I probably would have been more upset about this had I been invested in the relationship but unfortunately the specific relationship dynamics here also really didn't work for me. I found Asterion far too stalker-y (which I admit was probably the intent) for me to really root for them to end up together. Honestly I just wanted Ariadne to sail off in a ship by herself at the end.

It's also quite a bit darker than the rest of the series - not necessarily a complaint, just a neutral observation. I'm not quite sure where this overarching story arc is going - I'm still intrigued but also mildly confused knowing how many books we have left and who the main pairings are in subsequent books.

I still really love this series as a whole and think Katee is doing some really important representation - in this book, Ariadne has an abortion (off page but present timeline) and doesn't regret it because of the current circumstances, but thinks about what it would have been like if she had become pregnant a few years in the future when she hopes she will be free. I think this is a really important thing for readers to see and is not something I've seen in other romances.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Katee Robert is the Queen of my Universe. I love the Dark Olympus series and Dark Restraint was no exception.
I wasn’t exactly looking forward to the Minotaurs book, (per his actions in past books) but I love Ariadne enough to try it.

It’s hard not to love the “touch her and I’ll kill you” possessiveness of the Minotaur though. And Monsters who only seem capable of loving one person? Chefs kiss.
Ariadne just wants to be free of her father. .

There are a few things in this book that could be upsetting for some readers but they could be considered spoilers so please check the triggers before reading.
The spice was 10/10 but the building tension of Olympus politics was right up there on the excitement level.
Add Hermes and Dionysus and Katee hits it out of the park again.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and exchange for an honest review.

I loved this; another hit for Katee Robert! I like that we get a lot of the Minotaur(Asterion)’s POV. I feel like it helped as a reader to develop empathy for a character we had so far been steered towards disliking due to his previous behavior in other books. I also liked how much agency Ariadne had; she didn’t just sit around and wait for someone to help her. She was actively making deals and using her hacking skills to ensure her own safety. I feel like these two would’ve been able to be friends with the olympians if it had not been for Minos and the nefarious plans of Circe and Minos that brought them there to begin with. I love the backstory we got for Asterion as well. I can’t wait for the next book which, from the epilogue, seems like it could be Poseidon’s book??!! I already preordered a physical copy of this book.

Katee continues to make me blush with some of the spiciest books ever. Dark Restraint follows Ariadne and The Minotaur mainly in their plan to leave Olympus. I feel that this book is really leading up to the end of the series with the fall of Olympus and the previous main characters we have read in the series. In their plan, Ariadne is set up with Dionysus and are announced to be married. I kinda liked that their relationship stayed friendly the entire time, but i wanted a bit more i think. Dionysus hasnt been a super important character in The Thirteen and i was looking forward to reading more about him, but he rarely came up. However, the main point really is between her and The Minotaur- which yeah i get it, hes hot.

I will say this one left me feeling a bit more confused with the politics and plot of the entire series. There were so many moving parts that i felt a little lost in it all. Im not sure I know where this series is heading or how it will end. I felt a little disconnected from these characters compared to the stories involving the Thirteen has MCs. But over all I really am left with the feeling that their story will make more sense once the series is continued.

Dark Olympus has been one of my very favorite series to read and I am really looking forward to the next one with Icarus and Poseidon!!!! Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC !!!!!!!!!

I felt medium about this title. I've read all of the Dark Olympus series and have enjoyed it as a whole story. "Dark Restraint" wasn't my favorite book or my least favorite. The Minotaur has been in love with Ariadne for as long as he's know her. I love a good yearning and finally being together! The spice was good but not my favorite Katee Robert scenes. I look forward to the next book and the future completion of the series.

"Dark Restraint" by Katee Robert falls into the okay-but-not-great category for me. While it's part of a series I generally enjoy, this installment didn't quite hit the mark. It felt more like a filler, a means to bridge the gap between more significant plot points in the series rather than a standout story in its own right. The characters lacked the depth and appeal I've come to expect from Robert's work, and I found it challenging to fully connect with them. While the writing was solid, the overall experience left me wanting more. Despite this, fans of the series might still find some enjoyment in seeing how the overarching plot progresses, but for me, "Dark Restraint" wasn't a standout.

The worlds most enormous thank you to Sourcebooks for GRACING me with this aARC. If I've said it once I'll say it a thousand more times KATEE ROBERT CAN NEVER AND WILL NEVER MISS! Not only is this an excellent story of Ariadne and The Minotaur - the "touch her and die" is the most literal it's ever been and the mutual addiction and loyalty and fierceness is absolutely delicious. The sex is remarkable as per usual with a Katee masterpiece. But the underlying story of the war brewing in Olympus had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. And while I was undeniably enjoying the hell out of the ride with our two mains, every time Hera and Icarus came on the scene I started positively itching for their stories right this very second. The epilogue????? Cliffhanger delicious cruelty. I am a Dark Olympus series devotee until my dying day. Unbelievable how the bar KEEPs being raised.