I’m a huge fan of Katee Robert’s books and have been super excited to continue the stories in this series. This is the 7th installment in her Dark Olympus series.

And I have to say best parts of this book are getting all of the plot development and the scenes with the secondary characters! Unfortunately the main couple of this book does not really shine like the other characters do.

Writing:
The pace is a little slow at first and then speeds up about 35% in. Roberts is always consistent with writing style so this feels like diving back into the series and not much time has passed.

Storyline:
The storyline in this installment really ramps up the plot for the series. So much is building up toward all out war and we really see more of the pieces coming together. This book also really sets up the couples for the next three books!

Main Characters:
Sadly the Minotaur and Ariadne are the weakest couple in the series (in terms of writing). There’s the whole stalker/arbitrary killer romance (especially at the beginning) that really didn’t appeal to me. And the Minotaur never really grows to become an MMC that I care much about. And Ariadne always feels like a victim.

Secondary Characters:
Wow the secondary characters SHINE in this book! I am so obsessed with Hera and loved every conspiratorial scene with her manipulating and pulling strings. I also loved Dionysus and just wanted to give him a big hug. Plus we see Hermes more backstage than in her mysterious role and it’s good to flesh her out bit by bit.

Romance:
As mentioned before, I didn’t really enjoy this pairing. The stalker romance does not appeal to me and I didn’t really root for either character’s HEA. Definitely spicy but I just wasn’t really invested.

Narration:
Great audio narrators make all the difference in audiobooks! And the narration quality of Dark Restraint is excellent! It’s so easy for audio narration of spice to sound awkward but Zara Hampton Brown and Alex Moorcock do such a great job.

All in all a fun book and I’m eagerly awaiting the next one!

There was not a single moment in this book I didn't enjoy. All the twists and turns had me wondering who to trust, which, made for an exciting read. The spice was so good! Katee Robert knows how to write spice that keeps your interest and sends the imagination soaring. Chef's Kiss!

My favorite parts....minor spoilers ahead

He read her books to understand her and her fantasies better. Taking her over the edge with what he learned and, my-oh-my, how correct he was in translating her needs. 🥰 Sign me up for some of that please!

All the acts of love in this story from the meet cute revelation, secret dinner, betrayals, and proving love can conquer all had me falling for these characters and cheering for them.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next release and to be back into this world and to see what comes of Olympus.

This is my first Katee Robert book and I loved it! The narrators did a great job at bringing the book to life. I actually enjoyed the plot quite a bit but not so much the spice. The scenes felt a little awkward. 😬

It was heavy on the politics but the romance definitely didn’t take a back seat either! Ariadne and Minotaur were basically childhood friends turned lovers trying to run away together but also take down her father. They both secretly had a crush on each other and didn’t know it.

There’s betrayal, friendship, and spice. It was great and a pretty quick listen!

Thanks dreamscape and netgalley for the audiobook!

I received an ALC, and this is my honest review.

The narrators delivered a fantastic telling. I was fully invested from the get go!

I have been following this series since Neon Gods and always am so impressed with Katee’s ability to deliver a satisfying romance story while also telling an over arching story that encompasses all the books.

By the end of this one I adored our MCs and their story. I am also in desperate need of the next book to see what’s going to happen in Olympus!

Really recommend reading in order but could be read independently.

Oh my goodness this book!!!

I have been so excited to read Ariadne and the Minotaurs book for ages!! It delivered everything it needed to!!👏🏼👏🏼

First of all, the book starts with a BANG. Literally. 🤭 I was pleasantly surprised. I’d forgotten how the previous book had ended so I was a little shocked by the events until it all came back to me.

I seriously can not express enough how much I love this series. The story between Ariadne and the Minotaur was great. Their chemistry was amazing. I love a friends to lovers storyline and they gave me exactly that!!

The narrators!!! Amazing. I truly could not have loved the narration any more.

I’m so invested in the on going events in Olympus and can’t wait to find out what happens next. 🙈🙃

Once again the latest installment of the Dark Olympus series is full of steamy scenes that leaves nothing to your imagination. Dark Restraint follows Ariadne Vitalis as she betrays her father when she fleed the city to go into the underworld. She is now back in Olympus and working for the 13. Her father Minos, has now hired the only person that loves her to kill her for her betrayal. Minotaur is the only one for Ariadne and now is working with Herra and Minos to try to save her before the barrier is broken.

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. You know when you pick up a Katee Robert book exactly what you're gonna get and your in for a wold ride.i love the mythology story tied around current political / life events. Katee expertly weave past and current and feels luxurious.

4.5/5☆

More like 3.5 stars. The story was a little slow. I thought it would move the whole fall of Olympus farther but it didn’t really.

I did really like how the topic of the MFC’s abortion was handled. I’ve never read a romance like that and it was done very well. I also liked how this book leads into Poseidon’s book. I also want to know what’s up with Hera.

Another great installment in the Dark Olympus series, I devoured it today. I really enjoyed the couple and seeing how far they came through their shitty circumstances and trauma. The plot definitely thickened in this one and we saw a lot of advancement with this one. I am very happy with the ending Ariadne and Minotaur's ending and think it suits so well. Katee does a great job at making each standalone run its own course while still moving the whole world forward. A really enjoyable read

Thank you so much for this audio ARC! I have been waiting for this release so I was super excited to get a chance to read it a little early.

Katee Robert brings it once again in this latest installment of the Dark Olympus series! Undeniably fun, steamy, and addictive, Dark Restraint is a must read this summer!

Dark Restraint is the twisted tale of Ariadne and the Minotaur. Ariadne has always been off-limits, yet the Minotaur can’t stay away. When Ariadne is forced to run from her father, will the Minotaur finally make his move?

Ariadne and the Minotaur honestly have a pretty sweet romance! They make no sense on paper, yet can’t keep their hands off each other when they meet. The Minotaur is possessive and protective, though Ariadne is fiercely independent. Along the way, they learn to trust each other and start to plot an escape from her father and Olympus.

Dark Restraint showcases the romance between Ariadne and the Minotaur, while Olympus wavers on the edge of a precipice in the background. I loved the cameos of Hera, Dionysus, and Hermes. The political ramifications of the events in this book are about to come crashing down and I can’t wait to see what happens next! I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators did a fantastic job.

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

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

This is exactly what we love form Katee, with even less mess in the love story this time. It’s dark - but it’s sexy, and totally worked for me. Ariadne and Asterion (the Minotaur) being together felt inevitable. I love “it’s always been you” and “feels like home” and this was both. I didn’t care for Ariadne’s loyalty to her brother but the end of the book was bonkers amazing.

This whole set has been highly entertaining and sexy but this is a wonderful installment to the story! The plotline that carries through the books (Circe’s plans, Barrier falling, Olympus in trouble) matter a lot less to me than the danger of the ruthlessness of the higher-level gods, and the pairing (or grouping 😂) of the lovers.

3.5 rounded up to 4
These audiobook narrators were not my favorite. Ariadne’s was pretty well done, but the Minotaur’s raspy tone was distracting at times and did not match the image that I had for his character going into this story.
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but the plot finally outweighs the smut in this one. I was expecting some absolutely wild and kinky nonsense (since, you know, the Minotaur is apparently the baddest, most ruthless, murderous mf in the series?) but the smut was just…vanilla. Like after the puppy play in Midnight Ruin, Ariadne and the Minotaur (Asterion)’s love scenes were disappointingly dull. In fact, Ariadne and Asterion as characters really didn’t seem to have much depth or development. There was no angst with their “forbidden romance” and Ariadne just kind of *realized* about halfway through that Asterion loved her. I mean true but lol what? Where is the DRAMA?? The pieces were there for an incredible romance, but it felt rushed and ultimately was not the focus of this installment.
That being said, we FINALLY get some answers and progression with the overall plot with the barrier coming down and the no-longer-mysterious Big Bad coming to Olympus to make some war. I loved seeing more of Hera and Hermes, and actually seeing Poseidon getting in on some action instead of just knowing he’s out there running the shipyard was fun. Ultimately, the ending sets up book 8 incredibly well, and I’m very much looking forward to both the action and the romance to come for Poseidon and Icarus.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4 🌟
-
Katee Robert knows how to write a good Greek retelling with all the spices you'll ever need. Now my only problem was I was thinking "The Minotaur," was a real minotaur and not a human 🤣🤣😭. But whatever, lol. I wish they had gone into more details about Ariadne feelings toward what she decided she made at the beginning of the story ( I don't wanna spoil it for anybody).

The audiobook was pretty decent. The narrators did a good job. Can't wait for the next installment.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Aug.6
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape media for the audiobook for my honest review.

Olympus is well on its way to imploding in this new instalment of Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series.

Ariadne has left the oppression of her father's household to help the Olympians fight him, but in leaving him, she leaves Asterion behind. Even though they are now on opposite sides neither one can forget the love they have for each other. They have known each other since they were children and the Minotaur (Asterion) has loved Ariadne since the first time he saw her. Their not going to let a little apocalypse get in the way of them being together forever.

These two are so sweet together, which is weird because Asterion is really scary - I mean he has no qualms in killing people, especially if he has to get through them to protect Ariadne. Although they are very different, this pairing just works.

I loved Ariadne's narrator but I thought Asterion's accent seemed a little strange when cussing. The swearing sounded too proper or something - I can't put my finger on it. But it didn't effect my enjoyment of the book too much. I will definitely be reading it in print.

I received an ARC of this audio book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have a hard time quitting this series.
That's a funny way to start a review, but there we have it. The more plot Katee Robert incudes, the less I like these books. I mean, I know a little plot is important to keep a 10-book series going... but could I really tell you much about the Boundary falling in this one? Even as someone with a decent memory for plot and character intrigue, I found myself forgetting everything about the side characters. Honestly, that's fine, because as my dear friend @plottrysts says, we aren't reading Katee for their plots...

The relationship in this one is *dark*. The CWs are the beginning are clear and helpful if this is something you need. The relationship between Ariadne and The Minotaur (Asterion) is laced with violence and cruelty. Asterion is ordered to kill Ariadne by her father (his adoptive father - just in case you needed the mythological relationship between Ariadne and her brother to still exist), and even though he loves her, it's an order he can't disobey. I don't tend to prefer relationships on page where there is clear cruelty that drives the attraction, HOWEVER, it's clear that both Ariadne and Asterion are into it, and thus as a reader I was also into it. I'm glad that Katee Robert makes that abundantly clear in the book.

Read this one if you are a dedicated Dark Olympus reader. Otherwise.... it's probably skippable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I just love these books! They are spicy and fun. I really am in my Greek myth retelling era and can’t get enough. This was a great and spicy read. I am looking forward to more in this collection of books.

The Dark Olympus series was one of my favorites, but I feel like each new book becomes my least favorite of the series.
I honestly didn't care one way or the other about Ariadne and Asterion (Minotaur) going in. After reading their book, I wish they would have stayed side characters.
I didn't feel their connection in the slightest. I chalked it up to them having grown up together (step-siblings is an ick for me, but it's Katee, so I did my best to not focus on it.) and us not getting to see their feelings start and grow. But I really just didn't like this pairing.
The best parts of this book were Hera, Dionysus, and the plot moving forward. The smut was good, but it wasn't Persephone/Hades or Helen/Achilles/Patroclus level.
I was completely spoiled in the last book with all the Persephone and Hades cameos, so I'm thrilled we got some Hera and Psyche in this book.
Ariadne talking about all these real-life places (Canada, Brazil, etc) that she wanted to travel to took me out of the story. Olympus has always been larger than life, so putting it on the same plane as the Americas burst the fictional bubble.
Hermes went from being one of my favorite characters to one of my least favorites. Her goals seem weird. She's really 100% okay potentially causing the deaths of her so-called friends? Hades almost died in the previous book because of things she is actively doing, and she doesn't care. I really want someone to put her in her place. I need it almost as much as I NEED Hera's book.

C's motives for all of this is becoming fuzzier, not clearer. She wants Olympus to fall as retribution against a man who is dead? Who was killed in book 1? Before this all started? Against characters who weren't even in power when she was in town? At least 6 of the 13 were very young and not even in charge when everything went down with her, but she's ready to come in and kill them all anyway? By all accounts, the current people in charge are loved by everyone, but sure, let's wipe them all out to get some petty revenge against a dead person. I feel like the plot is going off the rails in a bad way, but I'm intrigued enough to see where this is going.

Hard to believe we're on book seven of the Dark Olympus series, but here we are. Dark Restraint by Katee Robert is another dark, steamy installment in this modern reimagining of Greek mythology--breathing new life into the story of Ariadne and the Minotaur.

Ariadne has betrayed her father and revealed his plans to the leaders of Olympus in exchange for their protection. Despite her love for the Minotaur, she finds herself betrothed to Dionysus--which sends the Minotaur into a possessive rage, when he finds out. He is still pretending to work for her father, but his loyalty will always be to Ariadne first and foremost. Despite her sham of an engagement, she and the Minotaur cannot stay away from each other. Outside of the bedroom, they find themselves racing against the clock as Circe and her forces work to bring down the boundary that protects Olympus from the rest of the world.

Like all the other Dark Olympus books before it, Dark Restraint is steamy and just a little bit twisted--but in the best ways. The audiobook is phenomenal, narrated by Zara Hampton Brown and Alex Moorcock. Even though my favorite is still (and will always be) Neon Gods, Dark Restraint is a great addition to the series. Thanks to Dreamscape Media for my ALC

4 Stars for this one!
I cannot believe this is book 7 of this series already...so wild to think about!
Some of the smut is starting to get a little repetitive I feel like, but i enjoyed the difference between how soft the Minotaur is with Ariadne vs how violent he can be with everyone else. The plot is getting sooo thick and twisted within Olympus and more and more of these Gods and Goddesses are getting pulled in and it's very intriguing! This one definitely moved the plot a long a lot and some of the romance was put on the back burner it felt like because of it. I am okay with that because the politics in this one STOLE THE LIMELIGHT, and set up the next book perfectly...which I am looking forward to immensely!

As always the audiobook narration is perfection-Zara and Alex always do a phenomenal job of expressing all the emotions, and have mastered the art of inflection at this point. The book flowed well through all the chapters, and the audio was clear and complete. SO GOOD.

-thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape audio for the early listen!!