Katee Robert never goes in the direction I expect her to go in. Especially in “Midnight Ruin”, Robert has me on the edge of my seat.

One of my favorite parts of following this series from the beginning is the layered drama of the Olympus politics. Relationships change, creating new some new alliances and pulling on the fraying strands that tether others. Finally, finally, readers learn who is responsible for the wards falling around the city, and who is the puppet master behind the chaos in the streets. Katee Robert weaves small details throughout her sexy, steamy romances. Pay attention to every conversation, and every interaction. If not, you might miss something.

Katee Robert builds a brilliant triad. Her talent for writing distinct character voices, and being able to cleanly separate their motivations and movements is clearly evident through every chapter and point of view.

Eurydice and Orpheus’ story takes place before “this “Midnight Ruin” begins. Eurydice was brutally harmed in a previous novel, helped in part by actions of Orpheus, her ex-boyfriend. She escaped, and has spent the last year living with her sister in the lower city, protected by Hades and his right-hand man, Charon. Since then, Eurydice and Charon have grown closer, building a friendship while she healed and he had to watch. Charon realizes that Eurydice will never be able to move on (and he hopes she’ll move on to him) without the closure of her relationship with Orpheus.

Orpheus, on the other hand, has been suffering due to his previous actions and has been hoping to make amends ever since. With Charon’s invitation, Orpheus crosses into the lower city with the intention of begging forgiveness. Little did he realize that his begging would be taken verbally and physically. His amends come in the form of degradation and role-play, and their relationships mend and blend in the bedroom.

I wish Katee Robert would push her writing limits and go just a little bit harder, both on the plot development and leaning into the character’s kinks in the bedroom. I’ve been in love with her stories since I cracked the cover of Neon Gods, especially after reading the throne room scene. The promise of consensual sex without the conventional boundaries of a ‘typical’ romance novel was alluring. It just feels like Robert sees the edge of her comfort zone and stops short.

Additionally,” Midnight Ruin” addresses one major plot point in the series story arc, but I assumed there would have been more on-page action. Ultimately, the novel feels like a placeholder for readers while waiting for the next installment. Eurydice, Orpheus, and Charon’s story doesn’t really advance the plot of the series story arc as a whole.

Katee Robert proves over and over again that she’s not afraid to write about topics that others never would. I hope that in her future stories, when she sees that invisible line in the sand, that she laughs as she puts her big toe right over it. Dive in to the deep end, baby. The readers are here for it.

Bring on “Dark Restraint”. I can’t wait for Ariadne and the Minotaur.

This book is on par with the other books in the Dark Olympus series: great writing, great characters, world building that continues from one book to the next. We’re clearly building up to some major drama in the world, and I can’t wait to see how it goes.

I enjoyed the characters and the relationship in this novel. My only issues with the story are that it ended pretty abruptly, and it could have been longer. I would have liked to delve into the three main characters and their relationship further. I assume the sudden end is so the world building can continue in the next book, but I would have appreciated spending a little more time with these characters.

All in all, a great read.

There is so much that happens to the featured characters in such a condensed timeline, but at the same time little to nothing happens to further the overarching plot of the series. It's grown incredibly frustrating having tiny morsels of revelations and then the book suddenly ending.

I was hoping Eurydice's story would be more interesting, but I just did not connect with her or the relationship with Charon and Orpheus. The most interesting parts of the story were with Charon and Hades dealing with the ominous and mysterious threat that we still barely know anything about...

Midnight Ruin was a miss for me, but I still want to know what's happening in the series.

Midnight Ruin is the latest installment in the incredible Dark Olympus series. This is the story of Eurydice, Charon, and Orpheus. While I never could have dreamt up this pairing, Katee Robert unsurprisingly pulls it off perfectly. Eurydice is tired of the assumptions and overprotectiveness from her family. Charon has seen Eurydice start to come out of her shell over the past year and they’ve formed a friendship. But before Eurydice can move on from Orpheus, she needs some form of closure...

Katee Robert beautifully explores the different dynamics between all three of them. I love how Katee always highlights the importance of consent, aftercare, and partners checking in on each other. Eurydice and Charon have an electric connection that is only enhanced and deepened when Orpheus comes into the picture. Katee never wastes time on miscommunication and instead focuses on creative steamy scenes (the painting scene!!). Midnight Ruin also advanced the political battles happening in Olympus and the threat of their barriers falling. I can’t wait to see what happens next and learn more about Ariadne’s story!

Midnight Ruin is a steamy, kinky, and utterly delightful read. If you’ve never read Dark Olympus before, I would recommend starting at the beginning. This story could work as a standalone but you’ll get so much more out of it if you start at the beginning! I love this series and would highly recommend it.

Thank you to Katee Robert, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy, Greek Mythology Retelling
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 1/16/2024

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Eurydice is in the lower city almost a year after her near-death harrowing experience. She’s heartbroken, and being brought back to life by Charon. While Olympus is destabilizing and there are more assassination attempts on the Thirteen and their families, Eurydice enters the dangerous political world to help. Naive to the real danger she’s in until assassins make their way across the River Styx. In the meantime she must choose between her new love, Charon, and her old love, Orpheus…or does she?

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I have my issues with this, even if I did enjoy the read overall. It felt like this book was mostly sex/relationship driven rather than plot driven.

I really can’t stand how Eurydice just up and forgives a man (Orpheus) who previously served her up like a lamb for slaughter. Why, because they have history, or because he’s hot? Toxic as hell imo. Especially when a good man is standing right next to her telling her he loves her and will do what it takes to be there for her. Then the whole why choose thing really? These Olympians fall in love fast & hard apparently.

It really took a long time to get to the actual plot and action of the story. It seems almost like a filler book before we get to the book about the war, which I assume will be the next book.

That being said…This book was almost immediately 🌶️🥵 and an overall fun and easy read. I’ll pick up the next one because I want to see what happens to the lower city and the characters.

Wow! Hard to know where to start on a review of Midnight Ruin. This reimagining of the Olympus gods is beyond steamy, with Eurydice, Charon, and Orpheus (spoiler alert!) forming a polyamorous relationship amid the continuing threats to the lower city by an unseen enemy. Since I had not read anything by Robert before this book, I did dip my toes in the world she has created by reading the first in the series, Neon Gods, which features Hades and Persephone, also steamy. The sex is explicit, so if you are a cozy reader, do not go here!

The plot revolves around the upper city gods who are all about power, greed, and violence, and the lower city where Hades rules, where people are accepted, cared for and about, and protected. It's an interesting dynamic, but be warned: the novels trend dark, especially the chapters set in the sex club where Hades encourages 'scenes' that stroke the libido and other/all body parts. Robert has made her mark by writing these hot fantasy/romance novels. If that is your preferred reading, you will not be disappointed!

The novel ends with the conflict unresolved, so an anticipated sequel is on the horizon.

3.5 stars for me

This was an interesting read but had a bit of a slow start for me. I haven't read the previous books in the series but was able to follow the plot easily after reading the blurb and some reviews on previous stories in the series.

In a nutshell it's a modern fantasy/kink filled Greek mythology retelling. We have Eurydice who's had her heart broken by Orpheus and it's now being mended by her best friend Charon along with some seriously hot sexy times. All seems good until Orpheus returns and wants back in on the action. Well let's just say this time round three's not a crowd, it's their new normal... Throw in some action and drama and you've got a great read.

Previous books in this series I have enjoyed but unfortunately this installment wasn’t for me. The throuple relationship just didn’t have me convinced mainly between Orpheus and Charon. Orpheus as a lead Character fell very flat. His inner monologues got a bit repetitive and I felt that if he was removed from the story completely it would have been better.

On the positive side the last 20% of the story where the politics and world issues in Olympus picked up were entertaining. I am interested to see how the conflict is resolved between the Upper and Lower city and the attacks from outsiders.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read a few of Robert's earlier Dark Olympus books, but somehow missed a few in the middle. So when I picked this one up, I was slightly shocked to see how much the writing had regressed at the expense of the sexy parts.

Don't get me wrong, I love sexy books. But this one was lacking in every single other department, and I was truly disappointed in it. Perhaps people who have read the whole series won't be quite as surprised as I was, but I don't recommend anyone to pick this up out of the blue.

I have loved nearly every book in this series. It’s a modern fantasy kinky Greek mythology retelling. Out January 16th, Midnight Ruin is the story of Eurydice and Orpheus and Charon. It was not my favorite, felt like not enough time was spent on the relationship or the wider plot. But we are def building to something BIG and I am, as usual, eagerly anticipating the next book, Ariadne’s story!

Eurydice is still trying to get over Orpheus, Charon has been Eurydice’s best friend and support but he wants more, these three set out to figure out what is happening between them. The plot really amps up in this novel. The person behind Minos’ evil plan is starting to be discovered. Hades and Persephone have to make some tough choices for their unborn children and citizens of the lower city. This was spicy and exciting. I have loved most of the books in this series and this is up there with some of the best. Lots of spice and lots of plot, it was a great mix. I can’t wait for the next one.

This is a compelling continuation of the Dark Olympus series. It follows Orpheus and Eurydice, who have recently broken up but still have feelings for one another, and Charon, who has been keeping an eye on Eurydice for her brother-in-law Hades. Middle was the best part for me as the beginning and end dragged a bit.

Katee Robert is a must read author. She writes with such grace and respect. I’m on the edge of my seat with the developments of Dark Olympus and somehow each chapter is hotter than the last. 11/10

Katee Robert does it again, Midnight Ruin is, undoubtedly, hot with a plot. War is stirring in Olympus, and Hades and his team are grasping at straws trying to maintain peace. What they don't know, is that their enemy knows them better than they know themselves.
Speaking of knowing themselves, Charon and Eurydice get to know each other... and Orpheus finds himself on his knees, begging for redemption in front of them both. What they learn about themselves, and each other, leads to a particularly *acute* path.

I love Katee Robert, but this one just wasn’t my favorite. I found the storyline and plot lacking and spice just for the sake of adding spice.

This series has a serious hold on me! I love the authors writing, so that, along with this worlds storyline is perfect!
I absolutely love how every book stands on its own but is still part of a bigger story.

Charon won it for me this time he was sweet and confident and knew when to let others take the lead. I adored him. Of course, you get cameos from some of our favorites. The side characters stayed true to who they were in their own books. There was a level of suspense and danger in this story. The kinks! The spice! But honestly, I'm not surprised at how delicious it was!

I enjoyed every moment. If you like Greek myth retellings, definitely try this series out! Check TW

I have loved this series and was excited to get an arc of this book, I went in knowing I would love the vibes and plot and hoping I would like the spice and romance. I say hoping because while Katee is the queen of smut sometimes the kinks included just aren’t my bag and with this one i’m conflicted. It was really hot at times but i’m not sure how I felt about the degradation and puppy play, like I didn’t dislike it but I still don’t know how I feel about it. I did love the open communication between characters throughout, it’s refreshing to see healthy relationships in romance books :) I flew through this book faster than normal, it was super easy to read and I was just really invested. I will say that I didn’t like Persephone in this one or the way she acted but I do like hera more after this instalment. I am already on tenterhooks waiting for the next book!

Overall I would say this is an enjoyable addition to the dark Olympus series. For me, this series can be hit or miss but I tend to enjoy when they lean harder into the Olympus politics, I think adds a different level of entertainment to the re-telling we are used to. This book did that for me, and I am excited to see where the storyline of this series goes. I wouldn’t go into this book of you are looking for a more accurate re-telling, as that not what you are going to get. I find the further in this series we do, the further from a ‘retelling’ we get. But if you are looking for a book with politics, spice, that takes place in Olympus this series is probably for you!

Now, if you are looking for a spicy read this is definitely for you: MMF, degradation, kink etc. are just some of the themes. I think she does spice well, it doesn’t often come across cheesy, scenes (while a lot of them) feel well timed and aren’t overly long.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one was so good! I am so invested in the overall story in this series and each relationship. I loved seeing Persephone and Hades again and being back in the lower city. I have been rooting for Eurydice and Charon since we got a hint at his feelings for her in Radiant Sin. This story was delicious and I couldn't put it down.

Another great book from Katee Robert, in a series that is just one great book after another.

This is a worthwhile continuation of the series - with some characters that we have seen pieces and glimpses of before. I'll admit I was skeptical of a second chance plot (Orpheus the playboy was not doing himself any favors), but I trust in the author and I think the redemption arc is very well done. I appreciate Robert's take on the mythology - the world building at this point is so ingrained that it feels effortless to see each new story and myth incorporated which is usually the sign of great effort done very very well.

While not my favorite in this series, or by this author (my heart will always belong to the O'Malleys), this is a can't miss series that I continue to enjoy and can't wait for the next (and the next).