Wicked Beauty is the third book in the Dark Olympus series, and I swear each book just gets progressively better and better!

Olympus needs a new Ares, and Helen wants to prove to everyone that she is more than how the tabloids paint her by winning the position. Ares is chosen by being the last person standing after a set of three trials. Problem is that her brother, Zeus, has announced that she is to be given away as a prize to the new Ares. Patroclus and Achilles are also entering the competition, and when the three of them enter into a sexual relationship, someone is bound to be disappointed by the results of the trials.

Katee Robert has done it again. The chemistry between Helen, Patroclus, and Achilles is amazing. The bond between Patroclus and Achilles is everything, sweet and sexy and so much fun to read about. Helen has looked to be just a society girl up to this point, but we get to see a very calculating and shrewd side of her now. The politics and the intrigue of Olympus make this not only a steamy romance, but a thriller.

Getting another look into the darker politics that is Olympus, we see the new Zeus much more in this book than we have in any others. Everything about this series is amazingly original. I absolutely love this new version of Olympus that Katee has crafted, and can't wait to read more! I don't want this series to ever end!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an interesting take on Greek mythology. The storyline was unexpected, so if you like me, studied Ancient Greek plays and stories, this is certainly very different to mythology you know. Essentially it’s a steamy poly ménage story. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series but was able to read this a stand-alone without any issues. All in all, I enjoyed reading something a bit different to my usual genres.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

Wicked Beauty is an action packed, steamy book set in alternate modern day Olympus ruled over by The Thirteen. When one of The Thirteen, Ares, dies a contest is held to find the new Ares. Helen, Achilles and Patroclus all nominate themselves as champions.

I was so intrigued by the concept of Wicked Beauty that I just knew I had to read it. I don't think I have read many (if any) romance books based on Greek Mythology and I was completely consumed by this world Katee Robert has created. It kind of gave me a sexy, hunger games vibe with the challenges the champions had to complete in.

The story is told from the perspective of all three of the main characters - Helen, Achilles and Patroclus - and I loved getting an insight into each of them and the dynamics of their relationship. The power balance is done so well and they each bring something unique to the table. Plus they have a whole truck load of explosive chemistry between them. They are in a highly stressful situation for a majority of the book but they still manage moments of tenderness and humour mixed in with all of the adrenaline fueled action.

I came into this series at book 3 but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. While all the stories and characters are interconnected within the Dark Olympus world, each book is a standalone. Having said that, I am definitely going to have to go back and read books 1 and 2 now because I need more!

Wicked Beauty is the third book of the Dark Olympus series. Wicked Beauty was sizzling hot, spicy and electrifying. It was mmf romance and it was set in a competition where all three of them were competitors. The writing was tantalizingly good. I felt like each book in the series is better than the previous one. It ages like fine wine.

I have never read about a throuple before and this was an entirely new experience for me. The re-telling part of the book was also very unique and different. The book had a solid plot. The actual competition was to become Ares- one of the Thirteen. Being the sister of Zeus, Helen was always treated as a trophy. But she wanted her own power and to prove she was more than a pretty face.

She defied everyone to take part in the competition to become Ares. There were 3 gruelling, death defying tasks and the winner was to become the next Ares. The tasks were insane, violent and intricate. The way it was written brought the arena to life and gave me hunger games vibes. The ending was very sweet and beautiful. If you like mmf romance, go for it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Katee Robert for an ARC of this book.
(This book is set to release on June 7, 2022)

'But this is Olympus. we're all monsters here'

The position for Ares in the Thirteen had been open ever since the previous Ares passed and the person who gets to be Ares gets Helen with the position but she definitely isn't going down without a fight. First of all, i LOVE the cover and I loved how ferocious Helen is and she never loses her motivation, add in Achilles competing for the same position with the help of Patroclus with an added side of someone trying to kill Helen.
This is my first book ever by Katee and safe to say i loved it.
i'm also very invested as to what happens with Zeus and Callisto.

Well this was a fantastic story! I loved the enemies to lovers and the triangle and all the spicy situations! The characters in this Greek retelling are so well created, and I really enjoyed the actual story as well as all the fun romps in the bedroom or closet or where ever they were happening! I highly recommend this!

This book was another hit for Katee Roberts. I fell in love with Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus. Helen puts up major walls and comes across certain ways for the eye of the public and to most people, but she is a totally caring woman who also happens to be a bad-ass. The romance between the three is sizzling. The book has great suspense as to whom will actually come out on top for the position of Ares. I would highly, highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC copy in exchange for a review!

At this point so many people know the story of Achilles and Patroclus but Katee Robert brings the spice in this retelling. I really enjoyed this take on their story in the modern city of Olympus. I loved seeing the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus and then with Helen. And hot damn was that relationship spicy. I also just loved Helen as a character. Like she is such a badass and I love her for it and fully supported for and rooted for her during this book. Her whole storyline and the plot in general for this book was really good and well written and brought more to the book than just spice. But there was plenty of that here too. If you’ve read other books in this series you know what to expect and this polyamorous brings the heat you would expect from a Katee Robert book and it was good.

Overall I loved this book and series! Can’t wait for the next one!

Let me preface by stating that this was my first experience reading Katee Robert and this is the THIRD book in the Dark Olympus series.

Snapshot summary:
The powerful Thirteen rule Olympus. The position of Ares is up for grabs via a brutal and often deadly competition and anyone can throw their name in the ring. The prize is even sweeter when it is announced that the winner will also marry the most beautiful woman in the city, Helen. Well, Helen is having none of that, and says "F*@k It!" and enters the competition. Her first obstacle is to get over her attraction for fellow competitors Achilles and Patroclus (who also happen to be best friends and lovers). Things get extra complicated and messy when, what started as an attraction between the trio, leads to love. Chaos ensues.

I would say this may be one of those instances where you need to read the series in order because I spend a good portion of the beginning trying to grasp the world that had been created. I knew it was a Greek retelling, so I was wondering if the world was magical. I had a ton of questions about the Thirteen, the politics, and the city itself that were never answered. It all took away from trying to get into the story. Once I got past the feeling of being "a step behind the story", I really enjoyed the story! I love Greek mythology but I'm not married to it, so I had not problems with the author taking liberties on the characters and original tales.

Things I that I liked:
* The dynamic between Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus. They just worked as a trio because although they were different, there were similarities that tied one to the other.
* The steam was FIRE. I was not prepared for it, to be honest.
* The story was interesting and there was a nice wrap up at the end.

Things that lost 'stars':
* Again, I was lost on the overall world building. I just couldn't understand Zeus or Hera's motivations, the actual wall they were talking about, and the random insertion of Hercules being an outcast. There were just too many sub plots that I didn't understand.
* It got a bit repetitive at times
* It left a ton of things unresolved.

Would I recommend this book? I don't know. I think I will need to read the first 2 books in order to answer this honestly. Man, would I love to know what the hell happened to Hercules.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Strong 4 stars!

For me, this is by far the best of the Dark Olympus books thus far. It had more of the Wicked Villains feel to it than the first two books did, which I liked a lot.

I think there are three reasons that I liked this one SO much more than the first two:

1. There is virtually no world building, this is 100% characters and relationships. It touches on some of the politics from the world, but the whole premise is that Ares has died, so there is a competition for the new Ares. This requires little to no backstory or anything, it's just about the people who are competing for the position. What small bit of other story there was was just to set up the next book, which I'm fine with. And there wasn't a lot of time spent on it, so great.

2. The story of Helen of Troy is the one that I probably know best from these Greek gods myths. I've read The Iliad, I've watched the movies (and not just that garbage one with Brad Pitt), I know this story. I love how it all played out, I love the roles each of the main characters played, as well as the side characters. I LOVE that Paris is a terrible person, because I've always disliked him.

3. This is a super queer story. I'm so happy that KR has written this relationship the way she has, because it's great. And it's not just the main characters, Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus, but it's there throughout the whole book.

I kind of can't get over how different this book felt to the first two. I also really liked that during the sex scenes that everyone was continually checking in, getting and giving enthusiastic consent. I love to see that normalized.

Really enjoyed this one, hoping book 4 brings this same kind of energy!

How does this series keep getting better and better? The action in this one is so well done and added a lot to the story. I loved the trials and how it complicated the relationship and made it easy to see coming together all at the same time. The series is definitely building into one of my top ever favourites and this might be one of the best so far.

In this Hunger Games-esque retelling, Achilles is determined to become the new Ares, and he is willing to do anything to get there with the help of his long-time partner, Patroclus. Helen, the new Zeus’s sister, also wants to be Ares, but when an announcement is made that keeps her from doing so, she must go behind her family’s back to get what she wants.

I have been so honored to receive ARCs of every book in this series so far, and they have all been five stars for me. I think Electric Idol might still be my favorite, but WOW Katee did an amazing job with this newest installment. Achilles and Patroclus had such a cool relationship, and getting to see their perspective as they got to know Helen and fall in love with her was just wonderful. There was hate sex, heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes, moments of fear, and so much more throughout this one, and I loved it. Katee never fails to deliver a spicy story with great action and plot throughout it. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book in my hands!

Content warning for sexual content, abuse, loss of parents, mention of miscarriage, violence, blood.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC of Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert.

I am loving this super sexy series. It ticks all of the boxes. Creative storyline, compelling characters, and super hot!

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for this early review!

Katee Roberts just does a wonderful job at writing complicated women as a mix of strong, capable, tough, smart, but also sexy, loving, anxious, questioning. The realistic mix of a woman who can take care of themselves but also likes the feeling of being taken care of sometimes. Some might not agree, I mean, I know it isn’t perfect, but I do feel like seeing it so obviously put out there and rather well-done is rare.

<spoiler>Yes, this does deliver on the threesome action and yes, it is hot. Also, it is really well done. </spoiler>

Now understand that if you are looking for some serious mythology, go knock on a different door. Roberts has made her own whole modern Olympus and it is rather cool. This is the third book and I’m liking how the story has grown and the slight bits of drama mixed in with an erotic story. There is just a lot going on here and that is awesome.

Neon Gods is still my favorite of the series so far, but that is most likely due to the featuring of my favorite ship. I’m excited to see how this series continues to grow.

Reading this book was an experience. Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert shifts us from Greek Gods to Greek Heroes and how they have been portrayed in the book will blow your mind!

After the events of Electric Idols, Helen is the only Kasios sibling who is not part of the Thirteen of Olympus. Tired of being perceived as only a pretty face, she sets her sight to achieve the recently open position of Ares.

The most formidable opponents set her on fire in all ways that count. Wicked Beauty is the story of a woman taking charge of her own fate.

Achilles and Patroclus are the leads of the story and present 2 sides of the same coin. Achilles is Executioner, Patroclus is the Strategist, and Helen has been navigating Olympus politics all her life. They are a team that will be unstoppable if they are not so hard-headed.

All books of the Dark Olympus series differ from each other. While the predecessors focussed on godly myths amongst the differences in way of life in the upper and lower city, Wicked Beauty takes us to the root of traditions in Olympus.

I loved the shift in POVs among the characters. Especially when the scenes got too hot to touch. The characters of Wicked Beauty are more prone to action than planning and it gives a very fresh take to the series.

The action sequences and smut were great. I am in love with Patroclus. I see he is a package deal with Achilles, so I’ll take them both; Please!

The original Helen did not get a say in her fate. This Helen does, and she makes the most of it with a one-sided determination that I loved to read. The entire book was so engaging that I failed to realise it when I neared the end.

When the attraction track shifted to romance, I loved the changes in the characters of Helen, Achilles and Patroclus. The three attain an understanding of each other in a few days when some people cannot understand people they have known their whole lives. At one point, Patroclus says,

“You joke, but Achilles goes into mother-hen mode the same way he goes into a fight. There’s no winning.”

Wicked Beauty has parts where they explore the motivations of each character. While the protagonists’ motivations have been mentioned through their perspectives, there is also insight into the other contenders in conversation and discussions.

In the end, Katee Robert gives us a jolt. The series is far from over. We are still waiting for the rest of the Dimitrou sisters’ stories, and one for Hermes and Dionysus. I will keep my eyes peeled for the updates on this series.

Happy Reading!

Katee Robert returns to the Dark Olympus series with Wicked Beauty, an explosive tale of power, scheming, and spicy times. With the former Ares gone, the coveted role as part of Olympus’ inner circle has opened up to anyone with the strength and desire to claim it. Achilles Kallis has long since vowed to do anything to become part of The Thirteen—together with his partner Patroclus Fotos, he enters the competition in the hopes of doubling their odds of winning and finally having the power they need to keep afloat in the dangerous world. Neither expects the infamous Helen Kasios to be part of the prize—but when Zeus determines that whoever wins Ares will also get his sister as their wife, the stakes become painfully high for everyone involved. Determined to be in charge of her own fate, Helen enters the competition as a middle finger to the Thirteen. She knows she can’t trust anyone to have her best interests at heart with so much at stake—but she can’t help but be drawn to Achilles and Patroclus time and again. As reluctant alliances turn into something more and sparks fly between the three of them, Helen, Patroclus, and Achilles will have to work together to face the worst Olympus has to offer.

You know, I keep thinking this series can’t get better and then Robert goes and throws me the Helen-Patroclus-Achilles pairing of my dreams and proves me wrong again.

This was the adult Hunger Games-esque romance of my dreams! I’m a sucker for stories in which women basically give the upper crust the middle finger by fighting for their own fate (yes, this also just made me think of Pixar’s Brave), so a bloody competition between Olympus’s crème de la crème fighting for the position of Ares was right up my alley. There’s so much tension, angst and rooting for the underdog in these pages and I loved every second of it. Sometimes, competitions in stories can feel lacklustre because you know who wins in the end but in Wicked Beauty, you not only have the constant question and fear of who’s going to become Ares (and what they might do to Helen if she’s not the one who comes out on top) but as the chapters pass, you also find yourself rooting for not one, not two, but three characters for different reasons. There are heart-pounding moments of uncertainty, frustration at the audacity of dirty players and alliances that would shock you—it’s a nailbiter, y’all. And that’s down to the fantastic cast of protagonists.

Truly, there’s so much to love about these characters on their own—from reserved, yet fiercely loyal and wholesome Patroclus who loves with his whole heart and has the mind of a genius, dominant, impulsive and savage yet somehow also gigantic cinnamon roll Patroclus all the way to Helen, the badass self-actualised woman fighting to determine her own fate while also rocking a glam outfit while playing other power players against themselves who try to make her their puppet. They are so vibrant and enrapturing that it’s hard to pick a favourite and thankfully, you don’t have to. Instead, as they become reluctant allies while still being fierce competitors in other parts of their lives, they truly blossom under each other’s care which makes for one hell of a good reading time.

I also loved the way power dynamics were handled in Wicked Beauty. We have three very headstrong characters with goals and ambitions of their own—especially Helen and Achilles demand their pound of flesh time and again while Patroclus is the one that grounds them when they might go too far in their pursuit of something greater. It makes for a captivating exchange and demand of power between the three and I loved how neither of them had to forfeit who they were in order to fit perfectly together—instead, each interaction between them was filled with tension, mutual respect and of course, a ton of spice. If you’re a longtime fan of Robert, you know by now that this woman can write a polyamorous relationship like no other and she does not disappoint in Wicked Beauty. You really have all the delicious, steamy encounters in here: from total hate sex to fulfilling dark fantasies and battling it out in the sheets, there is no doubt in my mind that Helen, Patroclus and Achilles were made for each other.

Lastly, one of the highlights in Wicked Beauty is that we get to see a new, unexplored side of Olympus. As the power players clash and try to gain more influence by becoming Ares, we finally get glimpses at the political machinations behind it all and, thanks to Zeus in part, we learn so much more about what makes Olympus tick— and what might turn out to be its downfall as things get complicated. And it promises to be an absolutely captivating future for readers who cannot get enough of Dark Olympus.

In a lush, scorchingly hot instalment in the Dark Olympus series, Wicked Beauty features a bloody Hunger Games-esque competition for power with three headstrong, captivating leads that make for an unputdownable romance with twists you won’t see coming!

Thank you @NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

"Baby, you sound jealous. If your relationship - your non-exclusive relationship - with Patroclus is so strong, who cares if I fuck him until he forgets his name? Maybe I'll fuck him until he forgets your name. That would be quite the trick.

What a bloody hot read this was!
Neon Gods was super-hot, Electric Idol was a little subtle, but the spice on this one was uncontrollable.
It was written in such a sexy BDSM and addictive read.
The perfect balance of smut, action, romance, friendship and character growth was hitting all the spots in every chapter.

I love that the romance was not the purpose of Helen's story, but it was more focused on who she is as an individual, her strength and what she wants to be doing.
The romance was definitely a bonus and something she has to find with trust and being more open with herself knowing what she had gone through.
We kind of get the rough idea of who she is, what Olympus brand her as but I wish we get a little more depth and history of her past, relationship with her family and Paris.

Achilles and Patroclus, my two sexy men, were WOW.
They already had their story and their focused was more towards their end goal of 'victory/fame'.
Besides setting boundaries and understanding of their relationship and attraction to Helen.
I love Achilles was the sassy bossy dominant one in the chemistry, while Patroclus is such a gentleman sweetest soul ever.
Together, they created such a scary, strong team.

The steam scenes were definitely 10/10!
Like it was so hot, I need to reread them twice.
Like, give me more. I need an endless amount of them in my life.
I enjoyed that all three of them had different personality for Katee to experiment with and balance off everyone's vibe.
I wish the ending wasn't straight into a rush. It could have a few more chapters to get them to settle down, a little more explanation and conversation.

I can't wait for the series to continue; I never want it to end.
P.s are we seeing another side of Zeus?

"It could be like this. You don't have to pretend with me - with us. We don't expect perfection. We just want you."

First Impressions
Wicked Beauty is such a delightful read. and I am loving what this author has been doing with this series. It’s such a delight to see with these books and this unique worldbuilding. This world can be really complex but I think of it like a combination of contemporary with a mythological fantasy type of twist. I also was highly intrigued with this one as it was a a menage which I knew that this author could implement, And I also can’t wait for book four (as its a qruple —which is two couples that come into one relationship which I have never read before and I don’t think I know of anyone that has written that) Katee Robert has become very creative with this series and I really love what she has done here, because it shows that she is capable of writing whatever type of story she wants that will satisfy her base and bring in more readers outside of it as well. Wicked Beauty was a kick-ass romance, and I truly was endeared by the menage build-up of the relationship. The steam is similar to her previous two books, so not like what she gave us in her erotic series, but closer to the mainstream level. You also could read these as standalone if you needed to,.

Summary
Achilles Kallis is determined to win the role of Aros, as it has been his dream to be the rule as he has worked his way up to the top with grit and determination. His partner, Patroclus will match with him to plan in the competition and increase their chances of winning. Then enters Helen Kasios. She is determined to be more than just a prize for the winner. She is beautiful and fearless and well-revered among the political circles. Her brother is furious when Helen puts herself into the chance of becoming the ruler over the thirteen. As Helen enters the competition there is powerful chemistry that is built with Achilles and Patroclus. She admires both differently but never expected that they would be drawn into a relationship together. But as tensions rise, and they go through the competition, will they be able to find a way to be together or will their love be enough over their dreams to win…

What I Loved
I absolutely adored this book in many ways. I was intrigued to see how the menage would be handled in the story. All three characters are fighters and highly capable. I loved what a powerhouse they are together and separately but their personalities are so different from each other. Achilles is the dominant and alpha of the group, he is a natural leader. Patroclus is the brain, he also is a solider but prefers to think through to solutions. Then we have Helen who is a politician and strategical thinker. I loved seeing how they work and fit together both in the bedroom and out of it. It was also a delight to see them compete against one another and fight to win to the top. In the first half, there is quite a bit of angst though. There are divided emotions that happen and you really see loyalties that become split between them as they decide where they fit but once they decide to become a triad, then it becomes so much more solidified and concrete and their relationship will begin to blossom. They are all such strong personalities though so it was interesting to see how that balances out in the end. I was actually not expecting the ending but I felt like it really worked out well in the end. Helen has been treated so badly by her family, that she deserved to have two men treat her and put her value above their own. I really respected the way that this author developed their relationship and I was cheering them on all the way through.

What I Struggled With
There wasn’t too much, I think I just didn’t completely connect with the situations in the first half of the story, there is a ton of angst and I wasn’t feeling it too much. So I did struggle with this aspect that is built within it.

Overall View
I found Wicked Beauty to be a majestic and tantalizing addition to this epic series that has won my heart so quickly. it’s a story of personal growth, sacrifice, and devotion to those you love.

Wicked Beauty is the third book in Katee Robert's Dark Olympus Series. A modern retelling of Achilles, Patroclus, and Helen of Troy. I consider this more of a reimagining of the tale than a retelling.

Wicked Beauty centers only on the competition from the mythos of Helen of Troy. And while the legend is that Helen was the face that launched a thousand ships, Katee Robert seeks to prove that there is more to Helen than her legendary beauty.

And while the story backs up that premise, I found it to be slow moving. For me, it had a heat level of only 2, maybe 2.5 🌶, and frankly not very dark. The story itself feels as though it was necessary only to set pieces in play for the overall plot, not necessarily for these characters.

Patroclus was my favorite character. He was more in depth than even Helen. Achilles seemed very cartoonish to me. There was certainly fertile ground here to explore this story premise, it's a missed opportunity

This was my favorite out of the Dark Olympus series so far!!!! I loved the story in this one! This book has my favorite plot so far in the series. There's action, smut, laughter, suspense, and the events make you anxious!!!!! I love Helen and her bad ass self! Achillies and Patroclus are, omg, just everything! I couldn't get enough and did not want it to end. Wicked Beauty is surely the spiciest of them all of far and I love it! Katee Robert knows how to write a story and definitely knows how to write some smut!!!!!!!

Thank you, NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Katee Robert for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.