I’ll be honest in that this was not my favorite book of the series...but don’t get me wrong—I still love the series!

I feel as though for this one, we’re largely waiting for the big thing to happen. And for some reason, I’m just not a fan of Ariadne and the Minotaur. I mean, I like them enough, and I finished the book, but it wasn’t as captivating as some of the other couples Katee has written that have mesmerized me and kept my attention every step of the way.

That said, I was incredibly excited to pick up book eight and figure out just what was about to go down in Olympus by the time I finished this one!

Tropes:
- Forbidden romance
- Opposites attract
- Secret romance
- It’s always been you
- Sneaking around

Katee Robert never misses with the Dark Olympus series. I always finish these in one day & am counting down the days until the next one comes out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this! I'm trying to catch up my backlog after being swamped and somehow didn't even realize I had this as an ARC when I read it to get to Sweet Obsession. I borrowed the audio from the library and that was very well done!

This was a good addition to the series, but not my new favorite couple. I was convinced most of the way through that Dionysus being asexual was not going to matter (and couldn't remember if he's also said he's aromantic) and that he was going to be part of the romance just without the sex (or would be demisexual) and then I disappointed myself when that didn't happen and we didn't actually see very much of him. I did like the known each other forever vibes to Ariadne and the Minotaur, I like some backstory and drama already set up over some instalove almost always.

While I liked the political aspect of this book the couple was not it for me. And honestly after book 4 the couple just have not hit for me. I’m loving the power shifts and all of the different political things happening in Olympus though. It has gotten so complex, but I love the MuseWatch newsletters in the beginning of each book that help bring you back up to speed. Ariadne and the Minotaur were a strange pairing in my opinion. They did have a back story which helped their cause a little, but I just didn’t find them to be the most interesting couple. I am excited to see what happens in the next few books as we wrap up this insane series!

Loving the way the Dark Olympus series keeps leveling up the drama, but this couple? Ehhh, I have feelings—and not all of them are swoony.

Dark Restraint throws us into the tangled mess that is Ariadne and the Minotaur’s relationship. He’s obsessive, she’s traumatized, and together they are… well, a lot. Sure, the attraction is there (🔥), but a happily-ever-after? I’m not convinced. That said, I did appreciate how the book tackled abortion with care and nuance—props for that.

On the plot side, the larger world-building twists have me very intrigued for what’s next. If you’re into dark, possessive romance dynamics, you’ll probably vibe with this more than I did. And for the audiobook folks—same narrators as the rest of the series, so if they’ve worked for you before, you’re in good hands.

I was a little nervous going into this one because I had reservations about a stalking storyline. I should have known better. Katee Robert knocked this one out of the park.

Another spicy masterpiece from Katee Robert!!! Her portrayal of the Greek myths today we grew up with, but with *Happily Ever Afters* not tragedy!

As always, Katee Robert's did not disappoint. While this book may have taken me a little bit longer to get into, mostly due to the fact that I am not a huge fan of the Minotaur or Ariadne, I still enjoyed this book. It still had spice without it taking over the entire story. I also fell in love with Dionysos. I hope we get to see him have a happy ever after. I am also very intrigued for Icarus and Poseidon's story. If that blush was any indicator, I cannot wait to see Icarus get under his skin!
#netgalley #advancedcopy #darkrestraint #kateerobert #greekmythology #ariadne #minotaur #icarus #spicy #familyissues

I just don’t think we should be sleeping with guys that are hired to murder us, but what do I know?

This series is a fun palette cleaner between bigger books and I’ll keep reading them as long as Katee keeps putting them out

Very Dark and super steamy. Political games intensify setting up the next story. The Minotaur is violent except with Ariadne, but he is very possessive of her.
Nothing, in capital letters, in this book is on my preferred troupes list, yet I continue to be compelled to indulge.

Katee Robert is that girl and will continue to be that girl. I did not have much back ground on the characters but I still fell in love with them anyways. If you thought Greek Gods were horn dogs before, Katee really drives that idea home.

⭐⭐⭐

Dark Restraint is the 7th book in the Dark Olympus serie but this book can also be read as a standalone.

I have to say I didn't care for the couple that much in this book but the spice was still good and i loved the story of Olympus. I find this book the weakest in the whole series and it felt a bit like a filler to be honest.

I liked the writing style of Katee Robert and especially this series, I definitely look forward for her next book!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series is amazing!! The characters are so thought out and in depth that it draws you in deeper to the story. A special thank you to Netgalley, Katee Robert, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Another amazing add to this series!! I loved the characters and backstories! I loved that the MMC was so supportive of the choices the MFC! Watching them fight for love and freedom was wonderful!! All the drama of the city is getting so intense as well! This series is addictive for sure! I can’t wait for the next one!! Highly recommend this entire series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Dark Restraint by Kateen Robert!

Ariadne is such a great character! Girl is intelligent and isn’t afraid to use that to her advantage. Everyone underestimates her and she beats them every time, it’s fantastic. The relationship between her and Asterion is loving and sweet and the epitome of the “touch her and be deceased” trope and I loved it. I hope we get an update on this couple in future books in the series. I want them to be happy.

These last few books I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy them as much because it is the “enemy”, but I still fell in love with the characters. This was very political and kept me on my toes. I liked the forbidden love and getting to know these characters.

*Dark Restraint* by Katee Robert is a thrilling, intense read that captivates from start to finish. With her signature ability to weave together tension, desire, and complex characters, Robert crafts a story that pulls you into a dark, seductive world where control, power, and trust are pushed to their limits. The chemistry between the characters is electric, making every interaction loaded with anticipation.

What truly stands out in this novel is the depth of the characters. While this is a story filled with steamy moments, Robert takes the time to delve into the emotional intricacies of the protagonists, making their journey feel more than just surface-level passion. The pacing is well-balanced, keeping the reader hooked without feeling overwhelming.

While the story does lean heavily into the darker side of romance and may not be for everyone, those who enjoy intense, gripping narratives with a strong emotional core will likely find *Dark Restraint* a satisfying, captivating read. It’s a perfect pick for fans of romantic suspense with an edge.

I binged the rest of this series earlier this year and Dark Restraint has been one of my top 2 most anticipated reads for 2024, so thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Compared to the 8 romances we’ve seen so far in the Dark Olympus series — including Medusa and Calypso in Stone Heart— Ariadne and The Minotaur will not be remembered among my personal favorites, but I never expected them to. There are certainly things that could be said about a lot of Asterion’s actions, but within context I didn’t mind as much as I normally might. So it works for what it is, I just think the predator/prey dynamic isn’t so much my thing. The smut was also lacking for me, but that’s partially because it followed 2 of my favorite entries into the series smut-wise. What the spice and romance lacked for me, was made up for with character moments in our time spent with Dionysus, Hermes, and Hera, as well as the individuals in our next couple Poseidon and Icarus, who we’d gotten very little time with up until this point.

Where it really shone most in however is what I think is also one of Katee Robert’s greatest strengths in this series in general: providing a truly interesting perspective into a sprawling and engrossing world, held together by a corrupt and engaging political landscape. We got our first POV from the perspective of Minos’ household with Theseus in Cruel Seduction, but this provided a more in depth understanding of the abuse suffered and the stakes ahead. I enjoyed seeing this story from the perspective of characters who actively drove the overall series plot, as opposed to reacting to events with in it.

This was my first time listening to a Dark Olympus audiobook alongside my read and I’m grateful that I did both because there was an error in the recording for Chapter 19. The middle of three sections (notably a mid-chapter switch in narration) was read after the last one instead. It didn’t detract from my experience too much but thought it was worth noting for anyone just listening to the audiobook. The narrators were not what I would’ve expected for the characters based on what I’d imagined, but that was a fun surprise. They brought dynamic performances that I greatly appreciated!

All in all, I’d rate this book 3 ⭐️ out of 5 stars, even if the points in its favor are mostly for everything but the spicy romance in this spicy dark romance novel. And thanks again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.