The third installment in the Dark Olympus series. This was a great read. This book had me rooting for all the characters to win. The dynamic between the characters was really well done.

Suspension of disbelief and go along for the ride is way I found myself really able to enjoy the Dark Olympus books. This one was fun. I enjoyed the dynamics of Helen, Patroclus, and Achilles and their chemistry (it did feel very close to insta-love but whatever it was a minor ick).
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC it helped me out of my post-Lore Olympus-slump.

I loved this book, so spicy! A fun and modern Greek goddess retelling that puts a spin on everything you thought you knew about Helen of Troy!

I tried really hard to get into this book but I simply couldn’t. It seemed a little cliche at first and even though I usually don’t mind that, the plot was simply not doing it for me.

4.75!!!!!!!

this book was SO GOOD. i swear every book that gets released in this series just gets better and better. i LOVED the hunger games/triwizard tournament element of this book, it really added to the stakes and the tension of the romance and i loved that they were all competing against each other. i also loved the polyamory in this book, which is different from the reverse harems that i typically read. however, i ate this up. i was obsessed with every single character (achilles was obv my fav) but genuinely they were all so great and so three dimensional!!!!!!! i cannot recommend this book enough

I DEVOURED this book! Helen, sister to Zeus and Aphrodite, feels like she is being left behind as her friends and family are the power in Olympus. She trains to win the seat of Ares until Zeus anounces her as the prize- the new Ares' wife. But Helen isn't going to be some pawn in her family's games, so she enters the competition despite an abusive ex (Paris), outsiders after Olympus (including the Minotaur), and a top contender and his genius boyfriend (our faves: Achilles and Patroclus).

Patroclus remembers Helen as his fierce defender and friend when they were young. Little did he know she would grow up to be the most beautiful woman in Olympus, and probably the world. Now, he's caught her entering the competition, she's propositioning him, and his brilliant brain is short-circuiting (which it only has done with Achilles). As the competition begins, he doesn't only want to protect Achilles...and can't hide his reaction to her.

Achilles is always a winner. He isn't used to jealousy, but why is he so out-of-his-mind seeing Helen flirt with his open-relationship-boyfriend? Of course. It's because they're both meant to be his.

But this is a competition and Helen refuses to be owned, Patroclus knows the end is coming, and Achilles can only imagine the future one way.

The number of highlights I have!!! Between the connections to the other books and world building Katee is doing, to the banter and DIRTY TALK - incredible Katee, incredible.

I was very happy with the resolution and only wish we got an epilogue to tie it up. But with how she sets up the next book...I do understand and will be eagerly and excitedly waiting for the next Dark Olympus book.

Overall, highly suggest if you liked other Katee books, especially her polyamourous ones, and want a loose greek mythology world with gladiator competition, sex, and power machinations.

Tropes: bodyguard, rivals to lovers, one bed, "you ARE going to be taken care of," *fighting* "Makeme!" *kisses her*, hate sex, childhood friends to lovers, MMF polyamourous throuple

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars
3 spicy

Unfortunately this did not work for me so my rating is fairly low. The writing was easy but I just couldn’t get into the storyline and was not compelled to pick it up every time I stopped reading. There are many wonderful reviews and I am sure this will resonate strongly for many readers who enjoy the link to mythology.

I really like Katee Robert's style, the book is imposible to put down, I was hooked from chapter one even though starting books and getting into them always take me a while. I love greek myths and this modern rendition was amazing, I'm in love with the world. The spice club will be happy because I'm glad to report: there's a lot of it. A lot. And hey I'm not complaining! I think my only issue was that I love Patroclo and Achilles' relationship and throwing Helen in the mix was not my cup of tea. but that's completely personal so I'd still recommend Wicked Beauty.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book ❤️

Y'all, its official, this is my favourite of the Dark Olympus books so far. I know I say that every time but hear me out ~ threesomes

This book features a bad ass heroine who doesn't take anything from anybody and isn't scared to fight for what she wants, and its so refreshing. It has a lot of similarities to books like the hunger games or the Selection in terms of a competition with life and death stakes, but there's a lot of tenderness thrown in too and the relationship is steamy, supportive, and sweet. Everything you've come to expect from the Dark Olympus series. and yes, there's DP 👀 if you're wondering. Just saying.

Overall I adored this book, I need to channel some of my inner Helen when life has me down, and I'm forever in search of my Achilles, I mean Patroclus is a sweetie but like 👀👀👀 c'mon

seriously, don't miss this one!

✔️ dark romance
✔️ enemies to lovers
✔️ forced proximity
✔️ mmf
✔️ one bed trope

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕖: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖: 🌶🌶🌶


Oh my 🔥 this book! Not only was it insanely well written, but I could not put it down.

Wicked Beauty, it’s story, the characters - Helen, Patroclus, Achilles - had me captivated and invested.

Katee Robert does it again! This time with a phenomenal Helen of Troy inspired dark romance with incredible characters and smut 🌶

While this is a brilliant work of fiction, there are so many underlying themes that everyone can relate to: the need for independence and autonomy, strong ambitions, love, and learning to trust.

The third in the Dark Olympus series, this can be read as a standalone, but is better read in order. Katee has planned for a a total of 10 books in the series!! And I’m so looking forward to the next!

I loved this book. I have become severely addicted to these retellings and modernizations and think that Katee Robert does the best at them. I wouldn't say that we've veered off from the realm of "retelling" and now they are an entirely separate story, but we are getting very close. It does feel like we're merging onto "FanFic" territory, but as someone who got their start reading smut with FF/AO3 type stories, I'm okay with that. As a whole, this story is lovely. You see the (codependent) relationship of Achilles and Patroclus blossom and Helen's stubbornness.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of #WickedBeauty in exchange for the review.

Having read and enjoyed the first two offerings in the Dark Olympus series, it’s not in the least surprising that I thoroughly enjoyed Wicked Beauty. Even the slight change in location can’t detract from the glitz and glory and devious politics of Olympus.

We meet Helen Kasios, a woman on a mission to take back control of her life in the face of Olympian politics. She is beautiful, yes, but she is so much more than a prize to be won, and as she throws her hat into the ring for the fight to become the next Ares she is setting out to prove her worth and find her place among the Thirteen.
Achilles has fought his way up from the bottom, whilst Patroclus’ mothers’ self-exile has branded him an outsider. Together they have become almost unstoppable, and when the position of Ares becomes open it’s finally time for Achilles to ascend to the post.

What follows is the perfect balance of the book’s plot, the wider series plot, and a spicy heap of polyamory, all bound together with effortless representation and inclusivity. It fits in brilliantly with the first two books in the series, with a couple of cameos from those earlier characters. Trope-wise we have a good sprinkling of some of the very best; Enemies-to-lovers, only one bed, prize bride.

If you like romance, mythology retelling, and a good helping of steamy sex scenes then this series is not to be missed.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I had read the other two books in this series so far, all were categorized as erotic romance but this one that I thought really fit the bill with that category. This book was definitely steamy - there were lots of classic romance tropes too that were really well executed (forced proximity, both enemies and friends to lovers, bodyguard romance, etc.). This book was also really interesting for me because I honestly couldn't figure out as I was reading the book how the author would have everything work out in the end. It seemed impossible that we'd be able to find a happy ending but it did happen and it was great. This book was a masterfully well done romance novel and I really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This is easily my favorite book by Katee Robert thus far! I enjoyed Helen's spirit and cunning, as well as her devotion to do what's right. This was more than just an erotica novel, the plot had twists and romance, with a good amount of action. I will definitely be recommending this to others!

As soon as I saw this book available to request, I knew I had to get it. I'd read Electric Idol and I remember liking it, so I had hopes for this one.

You can imagine my surprise when I found out its Achilles and Patroclus. Not the good kind of surprise though. I'd read The Song of Achilles and I didn't like it. I didn't know what to expect from this book but I had hoped it would be good, and lo and behold, it was.

So here's what I liked and disliked:

Likes:

✨Greek Myth. My third read of a retelling. Although it didn't feel so much like a retelling, more like borrowed Greek myth names, but the plot was still great.

✨Achilles. Surprise, surprise. I strongly disliked him in SoA, but Wicked Beauty made him more bearable, to the point where I might actually like him.

✨Patroclus. He's as thoughtful and sweet as ever.

✨The banter between Achilles and Patroclus was pretty funny and cute.

✨Helen. One word, Fierce.
Her ambition and strive to reach her goals was sublimely attractive and motivating

✨Hunger Games vibes, i was really into that.

✨You know what's coming. The spice was spicy alright.

Dislikes:

✨Paris. I can't really say why I disliked him without giving much away, but he's a douche.

✨Patroclus always settling for less when he could've had more. I don't know, that pissed me off, even in SoA.

✨Achilles in the first 30% of the book. He grew on me later on.

I've yet to read Neon Gods. But overall, I liked Wicked Beauty more than Electric idol.

Thank you @netgalley & @sourcebookscasa for this ARC in exchange for an honest review💕

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert is book Three in the Dark Olympus Series. This book was just wonderful. I am a fan of Ms. Roberts but this took my love for her writing further. This was a modern retelling of Greek mythology set in the city of Olympus. I do hope to read more books from this author and series.

It was ok, basic writing and world building. Would not likely recommend this book. The characters were two dimensional and flat at times with their decisions. Readers will like this if their into romantic Greek mythology

Read if you like: mythology retellings.
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Back in Roberts' world of Olympus, this book follows more characters based on Greek Myths. The position of Ares comes up and Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus put their names forward to compete for the position. The book follows their perspectives as they compete/find romance and desire in an unexpected way.
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I loved the relationship between Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus. This book was fun and steamy and I really loved it!
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CW: sexual content, sexism, violence, gore.

....wow yep. I didn't LOVE Electric Idol (still enjoyable) but this one was amazing!

I read it at the same time as some other Iliad retellings and it was certainly a different vibe LOL but you know what, the throuple pairing makes total sense and we have no choice but to stan.

The actual world/plot was also more interesting to me in this one - but still not the reason I am here, tbh.

As wild and erotic a ride as we've come to expect from Katee Robert, with clever twists of classic mythology in a steamy contemporary setting with incredibly high stakes. Powered through this in just about one sitting!