Unfortunately I would give this book 1 star and I really wanted to like this book but 3 out of the four main characters weren't my favorite, no real plot but a whole lot of unnecessary drama from all the characters and maybe a little too slow for my liking. Probably like a lot of readers, I had high hopes for all the above but everything just sort of fell flat, I just hope things get better as the series goes on.

This was a great addiction to the Dark Olympus series. I enjoyed the passion and hatred that Persephone and Hephaestus had for one another, but also how that grew into something more. I did feel the story was a bit rushed (took place only over a few days it seemed) and I wished it could have been a little longer. I can't wait until the next book comes out however just because I love this series so much.

"Cruel Seduction" by Katee Robert takes the classic tale of Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and it turns it into a contemporary, sizzling romance filled with passion, deception, and the intrigues of the gods. In this modern retelling, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, finds herself entangled with Hephaestus, her enemy, lover, and husband.

The story begins with Aphrodite, a character who's unapologetically willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals, even if it means marrying Hephaestus, the one man she swore to destroy. She concocts a cunning plan to keep him off-balance by seducing Pandora, a woman Hephaestus deeply cares about.

The book's strength lies in its creative use of Greek mythology, weaving together elements of the original myths with modern romance. The characters, particularly Aphrodite and Hephaestus, are complex and multifaceted, making them intriguing and compelling. The introduction of Adonis adds an extra layer of tension and sensuality to the narrative.

The author's writing style is engaging and steamy, creating a palpable chemistry between the characters. The story is filled with passion and eroticism, which is sure to captivate fans of the romance genre.

However, despite its many strengths, "Cruel Seduction" does have some shortcomings. The plot can feel a bit convoluted at times, with the lines between seduction, manipulation, and genuine emotion becoming blurred. Some readers may find it challenging to connect with characters who often act in morally ambiguous ways.

Additionally, the book's pace can be uneven, with moments of intense action followed by slower, more introspective scenes. While this can enhance character development, it may also leave some readers impatient for more plot progression.

In conclusion, "Cruel Seduction" by Katee Robert is a passionate and inventive modern retelling of classic Greek myths. It offers readers a unique blend of romance, intrigue, and mythology, making it an enticing choice for those who enjoy steamy contemporary romances with a mythological twist. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea due to its morally complex characters and occasionally uneven pacing, it's certainly a book that fans of the genre should consider adding to their reading list. With its fiery interactions and imaginative storytelling, "Cruel Seduction" is a solid 3.5-star read.

The last book in this series felt too plot-heavy to me while somehow lacking a cohesive plot. This book had way too little plot and seemed to skip important moments in all aspects of the relationships. There seemed to be a lot of insta-lust going around that turned into love far too easily. I'm feeling much less drive to continue the series. That said, I thought it was okay. I liked being back in Olympus and it was fun to see Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus pop up again.

Katee Robert continues her Dark Olympus series with book number 5, Cruel Seduction -- with all the politics, drama, high-stakes, and high heat that fans of the previous installments have come to expect. You don't need to have read books 1-4, but it makes for a deeper, richer reading experience, so I'd suggest it!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of “Cruel Seduction” by Katee Robert. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I feel like at this point in reviewing this series I should also mention that I’ve read all the previous books in the series. Wicked Beauty is my favorite in this series.

The last book felt like filler but set up some interesting conflict for this book at the very end. I’m glad I waited a bit before reading this one as I was really struggling with the idea of having to root for Theseus as the love interest after everything that happened for him to get a spot in the Thirteen. The beginning started off really strong. There was so much mess and wedding drama.

I think the story got bogged down in too many POVs. I can applaud the author for bringing in a poly relationship but I almost wish we had just had Aphrodite and Theseus’ POVs. I was very invested in their relationship with each other and Adonis (again Wicked Beauty was my favorite). I’m really sorry to Pandora but she felt so unnecessary in this story. There were multiple times Aphrodite thought she should have been thinking about how Pandora would react or feel but Aphrodite hadn’t considered her at all and that’s pretty much summed up her lack of a place in the book. The angle of Aphrodite using Pandora to get under Theseus skin was a way to add to the mess of the arranged marriage games, but Pandora just didn’t feel necessary to the story. I’m not anti f/f relationships or poly relationships but it just felt like when compared with the rest of the relationships Pandora fell by the wayside.

I’m still baffled that we’re so many books into this series and the world building is both sparse and confusing. Maybe it will make more sense in later books but right now it feels like the story is setting up something but all the details are still confusing and vague about how the world works.

I will probably continue to read this series but I don’t know if I’ll be requesting the ARCs to review anymore.

3/5 stars

Any Katee Robert book with enemies to lovers is already a win, then make it a poly romance and it just gets better. The character dynamics in this book were all so chaotic together but it made for so many top tier moments. I loved the whole seduction as revenge trope, that was probably one of my favourite parts, and it was written so well. I feel like this was kind of a bit of a turning point for the overall Dark Olympus storyline so I'm super curious to see what happens in the next few books.

Katee Robert always does a fantastic job with her retellings and her spice! When I pick up a Katee Robert book, I know I’m going to have a great time! Cruel Seduction was no different that the rest of the Dark Olympus series.

I really enjoy the political turn this is taking. I love a little political subplot in my fantasy.

I love how Katee explores new relationship dynamics in each book. I can’t wait to continue!

A long awaited review of CRUEL SEDUCTION by Katee Robert! Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!

I wish I had gotten to this review sooner, sooner being before I was able to meet Katee at Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, New Hampshire, and discussing her and her books alongside fellow Katee Robert fans. But, here we are now, and I definitely have some thoughts about this next installment of Dark Olympus.



THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS



Plot: 4.5/5 stars
Characters: 4/5 stars
Writing: 4/5 stars
My Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5 on Goodreads)

PLOT:
Friends, the plot thickens *exponentially*. We are officially halfway through the Dark Olympus series (CRUEL SEDUCTION is #5 out of 10 books) and everything that has been cooking up is starting to boil over. The way Katee has set up this series is the slowest of slow burns in terms of true overlying plot, but we are getting ever so closer to know what lies waiting outside the boundaries of Olympus.

The overlying plot of Minos' 'benefactor' (and is going to be Hermes' love interest, as per my running theory) is really keeping the plot tense, showing how every action, no matter how minute, is propelling this bigger story. This really shines through in CRUEL SEDUCTION, as we get a peek into Minos' inner circle with the added perspectives of Theseus (aka Hephaestus after the events of RADIANT SIN) and Pandora. You see more of the evil side of things with Theseus and his interactions with The Minotaur and Minos, but you get to understand the dynamics of the Minos clan through Pandora's perspective.

I love how just on this side of the equation, we get a whole new outlook on the inner workings of a new superpower akin to the Thirteen of Olympus without giving so much away. The intensity of the plot is working its way through every single nook and cranny, especially when it impacts the city on a grander scale. Because of the events of RADIANT, every Thirteen member is a target, which inadvertently draws Theseus and Aphrodite (Eris, if you recall the end of ELECTRIC IDOL) closer together.

Katee did a great job using the tensions of the overarching plot in order to bring the major players together (especially in their eventual poly knot). The marriage of convenience (or inconvenience in this case) aids to the relationships and tensions, but honestly felt like a minor detail by the end of the book. This book really focused on character dynamics and adding to the overarching plot while still maintaining the foundation of what we know Olympus to be: cut-throat, unforgiving, and sharp.

CHARACTERS:
I kind of already discussed some of the dynamics above, so I'll keep this section short. I loved the characteristics of each of the main four love interests, and loved their development over time. Theseus and Eris got the most development, of course, since they are the two main stars of this book. Pandora and Adonis have my heart specifically, though. I wanted more of their interactions, even if they weren't involved with each other. Pandora, in my opinion, had the least development out of all the characters, which was a shame. I was so looking forward to engaging with her more, but I feel like her screentime wasn't enough. I would've loved to see more drawn from the original Pandora myth, but I also understand that the Dark Olympus series is very loosely based of mythology at this point.

WRITING:
The smut? Immaculate.
The heartfelt conversations? Exquisite.
The well written everything? Marvelous.
Dare I say more?

Overall, this has reached the top 3 for the Dark Olympus books (excluding the STONE HEART novella from the list). As it stands, my ranking is as such:
1. Radiant Sin
2. Wicked Beauty
3. Cruel Seduction
4. Electric Idol
5. Neon Gods

Thank you again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-ARC in exchange for a review :)

This is such an enjoyable series. I love that different types of relationships are explored in the various books. The spice level is obviously high, being a Katee Robert book, but the relationships are always treated respectfully. Exploring a quad relationship was a first for me, but it made sense to the characters and I really enjoyed it.

i really enjoyed this book! i found their love square really interesting and entertaining! there also was soooo much tension in this book between ALL the characters which i loved. however, i wish we could’ve seen more of their relationship develop as a whole because aphrodite and hephaestus’ relationship makes sense but i wish we could’ve gotten a deeper development into how the other 2 fit in. this book was also way more politicky than the others so keep that in mind.

ultimately, i did really enjoy this book and if you’re a big katee roberts fan i would definitely pick this up!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this eARC. The book is out now and y’all need to go read the latest installment of the Dark Olympus series.

I am a big Katee Robert and spicy romance fan, so I definitely enjoy this series. I love how each new novel builds upon the mystery and intrigue of the story arcs, particularly Minos’ backstory. Book # 5 introduces us to Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Adonis, and Pandora and picks up where Radiant Sin left off. We get POVs from all 4 characters, so it is A LOT and at times it was a little confusing because the author would switch back and forth between using their name and their title.

Theseus is the new Hephaestus and since he is a child of Minos, that makes things very complicated politically. Hephaestus is forced to marry Aphrodite (Eris) and it’s a typical enemies-to-lovers situation. Theseus’ best friend is Pandora, whom he cares deeply about, and Adonis is Aphrodite’s ex. Things get wild and steamy and retaliation-seduction leads to a 4-way MMFF poly knot which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. The individual relationships were great, and it got even better when it melded into a group dynamic with lots of chemistry. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes dark romance and extra spice.

I am looking forward to the 6th book coming out next year, and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the aftermath Cruel Seduction, because all actions have consequences. I feel like something big is about to go down soon and I am here for it! I am also excited to hear Eurydice and Charon’s stories in the next book, as we get tiny peeks of these characters in this one. I can’t get enough of the scheming world and lore of Olympus!

I really enjoyed this addition to the series--thank you so much to the publisher for sending it my way to read.

Cruel Seduction is a captivating, edgy myth that features the beautiful, alluring Aphrodite who, reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage with the one man she’d rather kill than wed, Hephaestus. In doing so she end a relationship with the one man she truly loved, Apollo. Dragged into this poly predicament is Pandora, who has been Hephaestus’s best friend ever since growing up in an orphanage.

This book has a lot going on. It’s an enemies-to-lovers (Aphrodite/Hephaestus) and second chance (Aphrodite/Adonis), as well as MMFF open polyamorous romance. There are numerous relationships to build in this story and at times I thought it was too much. I love how we continue to see all the other players in Olympus, and we get to have a glimpse of what is coming next.

The Dark Olympus series keeps peeling back the layers of The Thirteen and political structure of Olympus. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I was very excited to see the new Dark Olympus book on here and it did not disappoint. Katee Robert has crafted a world that truly draws you in. I came for the spice, stayed for the story. This one was not as spicy but had a lot more political drama that made up for it.

I loved: positive portrayal of a polyamorous relationship, everyone is queer, a variety of gender expressions are found in the characters and they are not treated any differently than anyone else, the political plays, the character growth leading to more fulfilling lives.

I did not love: Minos, everyone falling too quickly, not much exploration on poly relationships and their dynamics. I fully expected this, as the inner workings of the story are not meant to focus on more than the setup, but I get taken out of the fantasy thinking logistically.

Overall, I enjoyed this installment of the series and am eagerly awaiting the next one!

I knew this book was for me just from the dedication. Katee Robert pulls off another stunning novel and leaves me forever wanting for more.

Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series continually raises the stakes. Cruel Seduction not only has an enemies to lovers, marriage 0f convenience, "don't speak to me or I'll kill you" kind of vibe, but it also introduces the first polyamorous relationship that isn't a closed throuple. Described as a poly knot, there are so many different dynamics and variations of the relationships between the main characters, but it all works. The stakes feel raised overall, not just in the character relationships, but also in the larger world of the Dark Olympus series. The ramifications of this one will have far-reaching consequences for the plot of the next books, and I'm excited to see where Katee Robert takes us.

Hot damn this was spicy! The plot, the worldbuilding, and all the political plays were interesting. I enjoyed how Eris, Theseus, Pandora, and Adonis’s relationship progressed. The dynamic between the four of them was so good. And the smut?! LAWD it was hot asf. My only criticism is the book wrapped up a little too quick. I wanted more, but I did enjoy it.

The Dark Olympus series has been incredible to say the least; but Cruel Seduction is absolutely stunning. Spicy, messy and just *chef's kiss*.

This will definitely be a reread for me in the near future.

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert is the latest installment in the Dark Olympus series. The book follows the story and relationships between Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Adonis, and Pandora.

The main plot revolves around the marriage of convenience trope and the non-monogamous relationship between the characters. The plot is seductive and cunning. The characters become closely linked together and have to fight through their sense of duty to find happiness.

The characters are well-developed and Katee Robert's writing style is engaging and entertaining. While I dont think this was my favorite installment, it was nonetheless entertaining!