The Dark Olympus series was one of my favorites in the beginning, but I feel like each new book becomes my least favorite of the series. After book three, it all goes downhill.
I honestly went in not caring about either character. I've been curious about the mysterious Poseidon since the first few books, but his character did not live up to expectations. And Icarus was kind of icky to me. I haven't liked him since I was predispositioned not to in book 4 (I mean, he attacked a good character for no reason), and hearing his story didn't really change my perception of him.
I enjoy MM books, but I don't feel this was top tier Katee smut. Achilles and Patroclus did it better. (All the puns intended.)
At this point, I'm only in it for Hera and Zeus's book. Their cameos in this book, along with Hades, were the highlights. Also, the anger that rose in me at seeing Hermes was new and slightly unexpected.

As I stated in my review of Dark Restraint, Circe's motives for all of this is becoming... dumber? She wants Olympus to fall as retribution against a man who is dead? Who was killed in book 1? Before this all started? Against characters who weren't even in power when she was in town? At least 8 of the 13 were very young and/or not even in charge when everything went down with her, but she's ready to come in and kill them all anyway? By all accounts, the current people in charge are loved by everyone, but sure, let's wipe them all out to get some petty revenge against a dead person. We find out that Circe and Zeus were together for all of a week, but apparently it lead to this level of nonsensical violence all because Circe believes Olympus should have stopped Zeus before she was "killed". She went after my baby Hades, and that really is irredeemable. I feel like the overall plot is going off the rails in a bad way, but I'm intrigued enough to stick it out for Hera's book.

This book was a 1.5 for me, but it gets half a star for Hera, Zeus, and Hades each. So 3/5 stars.

I am BEYOND excited to read Hera and Zeus's book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my ARC of this title!

I enjoyed this more than the Ariadne and Minotaur book. It has the perfect amount of spice and politics.

The ending felt kinda rushed, however I did enjoy reading about Poseidon and Icarus' relationship and their own personal traumas and issues. But because we got to know how Poseidon and Icarus were feeling and thinking and we spent the majority of the book with that, the ending was not was climactic and just felt a bit rushed.

I think this couple though might be one of my favorites in the series. I just really enjoyed reading about their dynamic, where seemingly Poseidon would be the dom because he is big and Icarus is small. Which, he might be outside of the bedroom but Poseidon is definitely not the dom inside the bedroom. I love reading about a big man being submissive.

This was a really deliciously dark MM romance. This book is a modern day twist on mythology which was a first for me. I loved the relationship dynamics between Poseidon and Icarus. It also had a great spice and plot ratio!

This was my first book by Katee Robert and it will not be my last!

As always, Katee Robert has continued to build such a wonderful world in olympus (figuratively and not so much).

I loved that this one was MM and I hope Katee does more in the future.

My only comment is that some of these books tend to be heavy on the filler, which is 100% okay but just not for me.

ARC Review: Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert
Pub Date: April 1, 2025

I have really enjoyed this series! Books 1-3 are my favorite but after those, I think this one is my new favorite! I really enjoyed the relationship between Icarus and Poseidon and I found the plot in this book much easier to follow than in the other recent books in the series. And of course this book got me SUPER excited for Zeus and Hera's book! Can't believe we only have 2 books left in this series but I'm ready!

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

I cannot thank Sourcebooks Casablanca and Katee Robert enough for an ARC of Sweet Obsession. This romantic take on Icarus and Poseidon has been on my list for so long and I cannot wait to see what happens next in the Dark Olympus series!

What I liked: Robert really went a different direction with this book that I appreciated. In such a long series, keeping each book fresh can be a struggle. This book is where the plot really started to develop more and we are starting to see where the series is going. . There was a strong chemistry between our two leads, and I really enjoyed the ending where it comes full circle.

To keep in mind: The beginning of this book was a little slow and I wanted a bit more of an emotional connection between our two leads. The romance was very speedy after first meeting, so maybe having a little bit more of a slower burn would have helped with this.

Rating: 3.5⭐️ I enjoyed this book and will definitely be continuing the series. I thought this was a new take on the series and provided something interesting into it.

Only thing I don't like about this book is it means we are closer to the end of the series.
It's a great addition to the world. I love bratty Icarus being a switch/dom. Love that thick zaddy Poseidon needs to be a sub since all he is use to is taking care of everyone else.
Fantastic spice! Katee Robert doesn't disappoint <3

we are back to the overarching plot line and i am dying for more!

poseidon & icarus were such a good pairing, and their dynamic was just intoxicating. they’re personalities were so different and not at all who you expected them to be, yet had so much chemistry and complimented each other so well. their ending was perfect and made my heart so happy.

to the plot; katee, you are truly diabolical. how dare you give us these clues to just say “lol you thought” at the last second. we’re getting so close. it feels like everyone’s cards are on the table and the ending could be sooo near and i’m not sure i’m ready for that. the meticulous planning that must go into writing these engaging, horny little books, while keeping up with a 10 book series overarching plot that has us all dying for more is so impressive.

i absolutely love this series and sweet obsession is definitely a favorite within it. i was so happy to get approved for an arc, i can not wait for the rest!

ahhhhhh!! i loved this sooo much! this was my first ever MM romance, and it was definitely a good one! i felt this book was more plot focused than smut focused, which i was surprised by bc i feel like that's very different for katee's writing! but overall it was very good and i will be counting down the days until Tender Cruelty comes out🤭

This was the 8th installment of NEON GODS, and if you're following along, it has become evident that by book five or six, sub plot has become the main focus. In this one you're following Icarus and Poseidon and what it means for those who've betrayed Olympus.

Icarus has been able to use his bedroom prowess to coerce information from key players in the past. And now Zeus and the rest of the Thirteen want information that he may or not have. Things are getting heavy in Olympus, and both levels of the city need to be protected. Poseidon and Icarus have two things in common, they both radiate the kind of energy that could charge a nuclear bomb, and they are both tired of surviving. Can they survive long enough to be able to live?

In comparison to the rest of the series this was just a little lacking. Spice was good but plot development fell short.

Katee Katee Katee… Don’t think I didn’t keep the receipts that you blue balled us in this one. WHY WAS SOMETHING FAMILIAR TO ICARUS? I am using this to help further my insane working theory about [REDACTED]

The relationship itself was a tad bit insta lovey. I usually hate that shit but I was here for it with this one. Something about that big guy being such a sweet and gentle soul really got me. And that last chapter, I didn’t think we were gonna get it. I can’t wait to see how this story continues and all comes to an end.

This was probably the hottest and most emotional of the series so far. I've adored Poseidon and Icarus! Coming back to this world is like coming back home but every time, something shifts and makes you come back for me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love this series, and 8 books in, it is hard to describe what is going on without spoiling, so I'll just say this is a great entry with a steamy romance as well as lots moving the macro-plot forward.

Poseidon is big, sensitive, and tired of the nonsense of the political dealings of Olympus and the Thirteen. He inherited the title begrudgingly but he's duty-bound to do right by his people. This sense of duty extends to Icarus, his captive who soon becomes his lover. Icarus is used to using his sexuality to seduce and manipulate and while he does seduce Poseidon, he cannot manipulate him. This is a bit insta-love, but I get it, and they do get their HEA in an epilogue which is unique for this series so far. It isn't labeled as an epilogue, but it feels like one (short time jump).

The macro-plot really takes center stage here, which makes the romance almost feel secondary. There's still plenty of kink and steam between these two though. Can't wait for the next entry in Olympus.

Sweet Obsession, book 8 in the Dark Olympus series. This is a male/male romance between Poseidon and Icarus.

Two things I love about this series: 1. It is not just a series of standalone romances between characters that we meet in the books, 2. Each book builds on the previous books overarching story. It is a single, interconnected series of books, and I really appreciate that for a romance series, as I have read a lot of romance series where the books are connected, but not in a way that would affect the reading order so much. I love how every single book in this series uncovers more and more secrets about Olympus and the larger ongoing conflict.

At the end of book 7, Icarus goes into the water with Poseidon as he fights to let his sister escape Olympus now that the barrier has come down. Book 8, Sweet Obsession, starts off right at that same spot. Poseidon brings Icarus back to the surface, as his captive. Icarus is extremely surprised to find that his jail accommodations are nicer than he anticipated. Icarus immediately starts his plans to seduce Poseidon into having feelings for him, that way Poseidon will have a reason to keep Icarus safe in the oncoming war.

I love Poseidon's character, we have grown to learn more and more about each of the thirteen, and find that most of them are liars, cheats, etc, but it seems that maybe there is a member of the thirteen who is actually. possibly truly good. We finally get to truly read about who Icarus really is, very different from the person that the thirteen assume he is. He is basically the best bargaining chip they have against Circe, more so than they realize with the information he has collected over the years.

The only thing I didn't love so much about this one was that the "seduction" seemed too easy. Yes, that was the point, and yes Poseidon needed an escape, but also, it still felt a little easy. Beyond that, I enjoyed these characters, and I truly enjoyed the ending, of the story! It was one of the better endings in my opinion. Also, who doesn't love a captor/captive romance!?

Some Fave Quotes:
"He really is good-looking. It's the kind of attractiveness that grows on you the more time you spend in his presence. He was handsome enough in a generic sort of way when I'd seen him previously, but now there's something that draws me to him even though he's the worst possible choice of a bed partner."

"Poseidon licks his lips. They're very nice lips. Sensual and full and completely at odds with his perfectly groomed beard."

"We're captive and captor, and he should have me on my knees, begging."

""Good boy." He releases me and turns away, as if he didn't rock my world to the core with two little words."

"He's a godsdamned unicorn. And I want him more than I want air to breathe."

"If I live another seventy years, I'll never forget the desperate, loving way he says my name."

Thank you to Netgalley, SourceBooks Casablanca and the author for a gifted copy of this book!

Rating: 4/5
I received the eARC for my honest opinion.

I love this series so much; you can read them as a standalone or read them in order. No matter what, you will love the plots, the characters, and the overall plot of saving Olympus. I enjoyed the plot in this book with Icarus and Poseidon, the character development, the pressure of all politics happening all around, but really what will make you love this book will be the characters. At the end of the book, I was wanting to hug both of them and tell them that everything will be okay, and see love conquers all.

I loved getting to know Poseidon more, he has always been someone in the background but not really known. In this book you will get to understand who Poseidon really is, and OMG I wouldn’t have thought him to be a softy, he doesn’t want to torture, he cares about his “prisoner” and can I say a submissive. Like I would have never guessed this huge force of nature would be a submissive, but it worked for this book and the characters, and I ate that up. I loved that with Poseidon and Icarus they went into the relationship with open eyes and they both knew that it might not work out due to the war happening. I found Poseidon and Icarus' relationship might have happened too fast but at the same time you will see that it happened just flawlessly. I found Icarus' character a little harder to trust when I started this book but by about quarter in, I really started to understand his character, and I felt for him and how he was raised and treated as nothing. He felt that no one ever cared for him and that no one would want to follow him if/when he returns home. I loved getting to see his true confidence come through while being a “prisoner”.

I loved that we got to see both of the characters' inner thoughts throughout the book, having its dual POV really helped me to connect to the characters and the plot of the book. I really can’t wait to see what will happen to these characters as the series moves on and to see the war, the competition, and the struggles of Olympus.

I want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to review this book.

I didn’t love this one as much as the others in this series. It was good but I kept finding myself wanting to skip passages at a time- I was heavily invested in the story and there was no way I wouldn’t finish- but skipping around like that is usually a sign, for me, that the plot is catchy but the characters are getting bogged down a bit. Kate’s Robert is such N electric writer that even with my skipping a bit, I still quite enjoyed the storytelling.

So hot. Sometimes you need a good spicy novel to palate cleanse from other genres. Loved this so much. Thank you for letting me read it in advance.

I've been invested in the Dark Olympus series since the very beginning, and it's so refreshing to be on Book 8 and still have such an intense love for this world and these characters. Poseidon's story has been a long time coming, and I was so interested in learning more about him. His character was absolute perfection. Katee always portrays neurodivergency in such a wonderful, nuanced way, but I feel like she went above and beyond with Poseidon. And to match him with someone like Icarus and make their relationship work so seamlessly? It's no wonder they continue to be one of my all-time favorite authors. There's a ton of character development on both sides in this one, plus a lot of political intrigue. We're close to the endgame now, and as much as I don't want it to be over, I'm SO excited to see how this all plays out. We get so many glimpses of Zeus and Hera's story in this one, and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on their book. I'm going to be so sad when this series is over, but it'll be super fun to go back through and re-read everything again.

This one missed the mark for me. Overall, I enjoy this series immensely, but this one and the previous installment have not carried quite as high a rating as earlier ones. The relationship was messy, and not in a good way. The captive/captor has a lot of opportunities to be an interesting dynamic, but this felt flat. I like the plotline that the captive is the one enticing the captor, an interesting twist, but the two together did not feel cohesive.

The overall Olympus plot was barely lurched forward. I can usually count on this to carry the story where the relationship isn't my jam, but not much happened and barely any of the other characters had any development arc. I am in this for the long haul to the end of the series, but this particular title did not entice.