Not sure what I expected, but it felt rather disappointing. I have not read her other books, but I imagine that they are written in a similar fashion. Story line was not particularly engaging for me as a reader. It felt very flat. I found the sex scenes to be on the pornographic side... I would not call it a romance. The language in the first few chapters was enough to shut me down to the book. F*** and S*** used way to commonly.
Every book has its reader, but this is not my book.

Was not my favorite of the series. Loved the Minotaur. Ariadne was just not a likeable FMC like the other characters, found her very bland until the very end with her father when she finally take action! But I’m excited to get a glimpse into Poseidon!! Also Hera!?! Like gurl what are you doing……can’t wait for her book either.

Like many others, I felt like this book moved the series forward in an important way, but Ariadne and the Minotaur just didn't quite click for me. Personally, I think it's because I like stories where we get to watch the couple get to know each other - in this book their history comes well before the first page. Definitely the darkest book in the series so far and, as always, I *need* to know so much more about Hermes. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this title!

I have loved the Dark Olympus series since the beginning, and we're now at the part where I think we're really starting to get more revelations about what's really going on behind the scenes in Olympus! It's so exciting!

I felt like Ariadne and the Minotaur's story was crucial for moving the plot of this series along. We get so much more detail about the political machinations of Olympus, The Thirteen and Minos. There are also some big reveals about loyalties for several established characters. We also see how loyalties can shift, and how one person's motivations may not be so clearly black and white as another person's. A lot of people are making their own plots and plans, and some of them align and some don't, and that's sure to play out in interesting (and violent) ways.

While I have fallen in love with many characters in this series, I didn't feel as attached to Ariadne and Asterion as a couple. We've been told they've basically been drawn to each other since they were teens, and their relationship is the culmination of long seemingly-unrequited feelings. I have no trouble believing they've been longing for each other. I'm not entirely sure why, but I just didn't feel drawn to either of them or their stake in this fight. It was satisfying to see how they team up for their own good, and not the good of others.

I thought the cliffhanger was a very good one, and the setup for Icarus and Poseidon's story is very tantalizing. I'm looking forward to seeing how that one plays out and plays into the grander scheme of what's to come.

**Book Review: *Dark Restraint***

*Dark Restraint* is a well-written romance novel that takes a more subtle approach, focusing on emotional depth rather than explicit scenes. The story unfolds at a slower pace, allowing for rich character development, though it may feel less immediately gripping compared to the author’s previous, faster-paced works. Despite this, it remains a satisfying read for those who appreciate a more introspective take on romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

No. Just a no from me. I think sometimes that ARCS need to come with trigger warnings. Which is funny coming from me because I haven’t found one single thing that bothers me but apparently abortion does. Or maybe how it’s just so thrown about like it’s not a big deal. Again this is 100% personally my opinion.

I don’t know if the character ends up dealing with it emotionally later but I didn’t make it that far before I had to DNF.

Also I felt like the entire storyline that I read was just a mismatch of things happening and thrown together that it was so confusing. And I didn’t relate to the main characters at all I felt like they were just sort of thrown together as well and the chemistry was very forced.

I absolutely loved the first parts of this series but this one may have stopped me from reading any more.

3.25/5

Not my favorite of the dark Olympus series. The overarching plot FINALLY gets some movement. I enjoyed seeing the different political sides and cameos of the other Olympians. The romance, however, felt lacking compared to the other books in the series. It would’ve been beneficial to see more of Ariadne and the Minotaur’s history and building of their relationship. They came together very quickly so there wasn’t as much desire/angst being built up.

Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read and I’ll be looking forward to the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Just when you think things in Olympus couldn’t get more dire, Ariadne finds herself a pawn of the thirteen as they wait to see what plot her father, Minos, is crafting up. Ariadne doesn’t want to feel bad about fleeing but part of her knows it was wrong to leave The Minatour, Asterion, as if he doesn’t mean everything to him. When Asterion discovers Ariadne is gone, he decides to make it his mission to hunt her down but matters get complicated when Minos orders him to kill Ariadne for her betrayal. Will Asterion be able to kill the person he’s wanted for most of his life?

Holy smokes Katee Robert!! This series just keeps ramping up. The levels of political scheming happening in this book is wild. You never fully know who to trust or what their intentions are. This book was probably the darkest in the series. I’m normally not a big “you’re mine and I’ll hunt you down” girl but baby Asterion had me reconsidering my position on that. I’m glad that these two got to have a book together even if at first I wasn’t wild about the pairing. Together they’re so caring and thoughtful about the other. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series.

Katee Robert has done it again! I absolutely loved the book and was waiting for another plus size female lead since Electric Idol and Radiant Sin. I do want to acknowledge that I appreciate how much she explains her trigger warnings and gives a in-depth idea of what they are. Not all authors do that and I think it turns readers away from the actual story because they are shocked by the triggers. Now to the actual story....
Do I read Katee Robert for the spicy scenes? Absolutely yes! But she also has in-depth storylines that are just as interesting especially with a series this long. You have to read the previous books to understand the impact of what Ariadne is going through. I appreciate we start this story with action and not a overview of what has been happening in the last eight books. I also wasn't sure how I would feel about the Minotaur since he's been very one dimensional till now. I should have known Roberts would make him a cinnamon roll very fast while being scary to everyone else. This is her typical story where the guy falls first and decides that there is no one else for him. I know that may get repetitive for some but I have read so many of her books it always seems to be a given.
Overall I think the book was really well written and it continues into the next story that she will be publishing later. I will say this does talk about darker topics then she usually discusses but I think people will appreciate it. I also love that we are seeing an expansion slowly into other worlds and everything is connecting. You can really tell Robert has mapped out the stories and really have passion for this project.

The seventh installment of Dark Olympus brings us to Ariadne and the Minotaur’s story. We’ve seen glimpses of both characters along with Icarus in previous books but here we really get a view into Minos’ family and their background. With Ariadne finally betraying her father, the Minotaur has some decisions to make about their future and the role they will play in the downfall of Olympus. Without knowing who to trust, deals are made and broken but will Adriadne & the Minotaur get their happily ever after - in or outside of Olympus? Can’t wait to see how the cards fall in the following books.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca.

“I don’t believe in the gods, no, but I believe in Ariadne. Her body is the altar I worship at, and her love is the only sustenance I need.”

That "previously in Olympus" through the MuseWatch headlines was GENIOUS! The smartest way to summarize everything that has happened so far and using an instrument from the series' own universe no less.

This is the seventh book in the Dark Olympus series. At this point, I'm not sure if it's still advised to read these books as standalones. The series can technically be read as standalone novels, as each book focuses on a different couple and their romance, with its own contained storyline. However, the books are interconnected, sharing the same world, characters, and overarching plot elements.

Similarly on how the other books played out, this one takes off right where the previous one ended. So we already knew Ariadne deflected Minos's household and sought refuge in the lower city. We now get to see the things that led to that outcome.

As part of Ariadne's protection agreement with the Olympians, she's to marry none other than Dionysius. The news is not well received by Minos, Ariadne's father, and even less by Asterion, the Minotaur, who is now sent to kill her. Not that he has any intention to follow that order, but Ariadne doesn't need to know that, right?

So... Ariadne. I was wanting for her to surprise me. But she is, I don't know, bland? Sure, she was kind and resilient, but I really didn't get the appeal. It didn't help that pretty much all of her story with Asterior takes place in the past. They undoubtedly have a real connection, but that was built before the events of this book. They've been friends for a long time, predating the book's time frame, so we don't get much development of that relationship. We already start with Asterion completely obsessed with Ariadne, and her smitten with him.

For his turn, Asterion - the Minotaur - surprised me a lot though. I wasn't expecting to like his character as much as I did. He's truly complex and his chapters were by far my favorites. And he's far smarter and strategic than people give him credit for. Based on how the book was marketed, I thought he would be more ruthless when he was actually pretty reasonable. Yet again, they're failing to properly communicate the real content (and tone!) of the books in this series.

This book reminded me a lot of Radiant Sin in terms of how it was set up. Both books were much more about moving the plot forward than about the couples themselves, it's almost like the main couple were a subplot of their own book. It doesn't bother me as much because I find the plot of Dark Olympus fascinating and I know I won't relate to every pairing in each book.

Dark Restraint also paves the path for the upcoming books most of all. And their story is so disconnected from the main plot that they literally left Olympus at the end. I mean, they talked about it the whole book, yes, but it still was very anticlimactic. All the books in this series have ended on a "happy for now" note, but it seems like this book took it to the extreme. The last chapter, in particular, was so rushed and the epilogue was literally about the next book.

Also, I never really understood how the barrier/wall worked and I thought that with it finally coming down we would have a better explanation about it. That didn't happen, unfortunately, and now I have more questions than before. I respect the author a lot, but it seems like they bit off more than they could chew with this specific plot.

As for the side characters in this book, I loved getting to know Dionysius better! He's so cunning! And I'm even more intrigued by Hera! I have a feeling I'm gonna devour Hera and Zeus's book. The Dimitriou sisters are my favorites, they're always great FMCs.

DARK RESTRAINT is another winner in this series, with a storyline that pushes the overall narrative forward while still providing plenty of sizzle and substance with Ariadne and The Minotaur. Really enjoy this overall series of books for its creative storytelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review DARK RESTRAINT.

A solid addition to the Dark Olympus series. I really like the longterm relationship Ariadne and the Minotaur had before the book started, and their devotion to each other no matter what the other did. I skipped the book before so I was a little lost in the "Olympus" plot, but not so much that the story wasn't enjoyable. I've more been reading the books for the couples, not the overarching plot, so it was fine.

My only complaint is a spoiler, so beware.
Starting the book with Ariadne having an abortion without telling the Minotaur until after and him being completely accepting seemed out of character for him. He's pretty controlling in that romance. hero way, and him reacting by being totally fine that Ariadne did it without telling him...yes, he's a romance hero, but all his character building didn't point to that sort of response. I don't mind positive light abortion in romance, but this one felt off for the character.

Thanks Netgalley for the review copy!

I'm forever obsessed with the world Katee has created for Dark Olympus, and this book grabbed me by the throat and would NOT release me. The Minotaur and Ariadne are the epitome of gone for each other -- I love them so much, your honor.

The romance is dark and there's murder galore, and the intrigue is high as we ricochet into the final books of the Dark Olympus series. My heart was in my throat most of the time I read this book.

Love that this series continues to have more of a storyline as more books come out but the romance fell kind of flat for me 😕 like it was clear that feelings were there for the main characters but it felt super forced.
The spice was okay. Honestly nothing to write home about in comparison to the other books in this series.
Would I recommend it? Probably if you’ve already read the rest of the books and enjoyed them so far.
Regardless, thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me this ARC opportunity to read!

This is my second favorite book out of the entire series. Absolutely love Ariadne, and the Minotaurs story. He was such a dark unliked character. He really was portrayed so evil. To see this side was swoon worthy.

This Contemporary Romance is Book 7 in the Dark Olympus series. The romance in this book is more of a fighting of feelings, and denial. This book is spicy just like the previous books in this series. The scenes are descriptive, and frequent throughout the book. The book moves at a quick pace following Ariadne and the Minotaurs relationship bloom into more all the while they are wrapped up in the push and pull of the devastation unfolding in Olympia. They are being used in so many directions in a race for everyone to complete their agendas. Ariadne and The Minotaur have a very dark history, but a very heart warming history too. The backstory provided really builds the characters up. This book does wonderfully focusing heavily on the couple, as well as the plot. The plot unfolds much more in this book than it has in the previous books. It is enjoyable, and exciting to experience the plot play out side by side with the romantic spice.

Book 7 of the Dark Olympus series!

So I loved what this did for the SERIES, while not being super into what it was doing for the actual people this book was about. They started out pretty good actually, but got less interesting as the book went on. I am pretty excited for all of the pairings left in the series, so I think those will all be exciting. I am in awe of KR's writing speed!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Dark Restraint is the 7th book in the Dark Olympus series and you really need to read the previous books to understand the backstabbing, politics, and drama. Ariadne is tired of being her father's pawn so she runs to the enemy and shares all she knows in exchange for safety. She also ran away from Asterion (Minataur) and he is not happy about it. Asterion was her father's lackey, but he loved Ariadne and was going to make sure they end up together after all the dust settles.

Honestly, I really did NOT like Asterion for a good portion of the book. He was mad that Ariadne didn't understand him and was baffled that she thinks he could actually kill her (despite saying he was there to kill her). He was so self centered while telling everyone he was doing everything for Ariadne. His love was frustrating. But, the bigger story in all this was the politics. Hera is mounting an insurrection, Circe is coming, and everyone is picking sides. I love the world building in this series and Dark Restraint adds to it nicely!

It took me a minute to warm up to this couple as they are quite extreme opposites and I didn't really fully grasp their backstop (emotionally) until about 25% in but once I did I really enjoyed their dynamic. I also really liked the over-arching plot development and there were some strong hints at what future books will be about. Can't wait!

I am rounding this up from 2,5 stars to 3, just because I enjoyed the political plot and I’ve always had a soft spot for mythological reimaginings. While this book certainly had its moments, I couldn't fully connect with Ariadne and the Minotaur as a couple. While the story offers glimpses of their long-running friendship, it doesn’t delve deep enough into their history to make their relationship truly compelling. Honestly, I found the scenes with Dionysus more charming and memorable.

Having read Dark Olympus #1 last year (and thoroughly enjoying it), I know the heights Katee Robert can reach. This installment wasn’t terrible by any means, but it didn’t quite live up to her best work either.