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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I’d rank this as sort of middle of the pack for the Dark Olympus series for me. I liked it more than Electric Idol and Radiant Sun for sure, but I think Wicked Beauty, Cruel Seduction, and Neon Gods will always be my top favourites. However, I’m ready and willing to be proven wrong by the last 3!
I do like how the stakes are getting higher and conflict has become quite heightened as the books have progressed, with some truly nail-biting moments near the end! I liked hearing from Eurydice and watching her come into her own, beyond the protection and shadows of her sisters.
Although I appreciated KR mixing it up with the relationship development and dynamic, it felt like Charon and Eurydice got together immediately with zero yearning or development. In addition to that, I feel like Orpheus was redeemed way too quickly than was realistic for the hurt that he had caused. So while the spice was next level, the relationships didn’t really feel earned in the same way as some of the other books.
All in all, I got what I came for and I’m happy to devour these books whenever they come out, but I wasn’t as invested in this one as I wanted to be!
I do like how the stakes are getting higher and conflict has become quite heightened as the books have progressed, with some truly nail-biting moments near the end! I liked hearing from Eurydice and watching her come into her own, beyond the protection and shadows of her sisters.
Although I appreciated KR mixing it up with the relationship development and dynamic, it felt like Charon and Eurydice got together immediately with zero yearning or development. In addition to that, I feel like Orpheus was redeemed way too quickly than was realistic for the hurt that he had caused. So while the spice was next level, the relationships didn’t really feel earned in the same way as some of the other books.
All in all, I got what I came for and I’m happy to devour these books whenever they come out, but I wasn’t as invested in this one as I wanted to be!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Abortion
bookishlucy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have conflicting feelings about this book. I've enjoyed the series immensely so far and I can't help feeling slightly disappointed in this one. It wasn't bad by any means. I still enjoyed the developments of the overarching plot So excited we're getting Circe in this series, even if she is the villain currently! And I liked the relationship between Charon, Orpheus, and Eurydice.
My qualms with the book are the following (Potential spoilers, I've tried to mark as many as possible but proceed with caution!):
My qualms with the book are the following (Potential spoilers, I've tried to mark as many as possible but proceed with caution!):
- There were more spelling/grammar errors in this book than usual. Mistakes are always going to slip through but compared to the 5 previous books, there were a lot more in this one than usual. And besides the usual typos, there were some pretty big mistakes like missing words or dialogue that was practically repeated only a paragraph later by the same character. Individually these wouldn't have been a big deal and wouldn't have impacted the reading experience, but I couldn't help but notice the stark difference in quality compared to the other books in the series. This one almost felt rushed.
- Besides the spelling/grammar feeling rushed, the story also felt rushed. Charon comes off a little strong. I get that they have an existing situationship that we got glimpses of in the previous books but I would've liked to see their relationship develop a little slower. Instead, we were immediately thrust into it from the very first chapter.
If I remember correctly, Charon literally says 'I love you' to Eurydice in the first chapter.
- Charon doesn't seem to have much internal conflict about being attracted to Orpheus/wanting him to be part of a trio with him and Eurydice. I feel like this seems out of character since he's usually so overprotective of her.
Orpheus traumatized her by almost getting her killed. I don't feel like Charon would be so blazé about Orpheus being around. He seems fine with adding Orpheus to their relationship long-term from the start and I just think it would make more sense/be more interesting if he was struggling with conflicting emotions.
Despite all of this, I still enjoyed the book, though not as much as the previous 5 installments. This is the first book I've rated lower than 4 stars which makes me extremely sad since I was really looking forward to Eurydice's book.
I will still be reading Dark Restraint the second it comes out!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Abortion, Death of parent, Blood, Dementia, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
llcardenas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
And so it continues! I keep getting lucky with my library holds on these books coming through right before travel times, because they are perfect for easy, escapist reading in the background of flights and vacation.
This sixth installation gives us the story of Eurydice, younger sister to Persephone and Psyche from the first two books, known for her innocence and (more recently) the broken heart she was left with after her time with Orpheus. For the past year, she's been living under Hades' protection in the lower city. Though to be more specific, she's been directly under the care of Hades' right-hand man, Charon. The two of them, after all their time together, have definitely caught some feelings, but Charon's priority is her safety and Eurydice is still reeling a bit from Orpheus' betrayal. When the ice breaks and they finally decide to take a risk on each other, Orpheus re-enters the picture too (looking to make up for past wrongs), and the three of them will have to work through quite a bit to create something that feels right for them all, together. Oh, and at the same time, the outside threats to Olympus haven't gone anywhere. In fact, the attacks are seeping into the Lower City and Hades faces some tough choices to protect his family and his people, choices that will affect all our MCs and, really, the whole of Olympus.
All this romance reading I've been doing lately is truly fine-tuning my own awareness of what I'm into. And this book has a lot of it. Phew. The relationship dynamics (as far as f/m/m, if not in regards to prior relationships or the role each plays in this poly situation) are similar to Wicked Beauty, which has been my favorite of the series to date. And while I liked that plot better than this one, I have to admit the threesome here makes this, probably, my second favorite. The intimacy dynamics really spoke to me (if not the specific kinks, then definitely the overall vibes of reliance and protection). On the whole, the actual sex scenes were magnificent; I loved that way that art and healing were woven in a bit too. This one for sure started out much more toxic - there was quite a bit, emotionally, that needed to be worked through - but once our three had a chance to really talk, it was handled (IMO) successfully enough. Plus, the general messiness of a lot of these romances are part of the "can't stop turning pages" reactions I have while reading. So, while I know they aren't always the healthiest, I am here for the it's-not-real-life-so-I-can-feel-less-guilty-loving-it drama. And my biggest soft spot is for the ending(s), when these poly relationships provide so much more support and love and presence than a person could get in a pairing. All those "I got you" vibes, from all directions, really get me right in the fulfilling feels.
Outside of the relationship, it was fun to revisit the Lower City and the characters there. We hadn't had a chance to do that in a little while, and there's always a bit of comfort reading in that kind of familiarity. And look, I know I said this for the last one too, but this story arc is getting real. I am finding myself invested in the outcome, the future of Olympus, far more than I would have expected. This happened with the Psy-Changling series too and, honestly, I don't hate it. It's nice to have these quick and entertaining and sort of ridiculous and definitely steamy reads sitting in reserve for when I need a break from heavier books/topics/life. There was a lot of violence in this one, as there have been in the last few, but of a different sort of style, which was a lot to read, but a nice mix-up. And we got a reveal of the big bad! I wasn't expecting the name, nor the reasoning, at all. But it fits so well and I'm really happy with it. As with everything else, Roebrt has done a great job using the original mythology as guidance for characters and themes, but continues to impress with the way she fits it into a new framework to make it something original (with many more happier endings, of course).
I'm still on board for more, y'all! Already on the library waitlist for the next (as yet to be published) installment. I am very interested to see where Ariadne’s story goes next, romantically and for the larger plot, because the setup we were given in this book was super mysterious and intriguing. Let's keep the drama (and sex) rolling onwards!
“But make no mistake, none of that threatens us, baby. We crossed that bridge tonight, and there’s no going back. You and me, we’re endgame.”
"The person I am now would never be satisfied with only witnessing magic. I want to be the one creating it."
"He’s become the boogeyman that they always accused him of being. Ironically, it’s not hate that made him this way. It’s love."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abortion
ghostmomxoxo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
kristabarkman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy
mymoonlightlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence
Moderate: Stalking
apirlroge's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, Abortion, and War
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fun addition to the series!
I'm impressed by how Robert managed to redeem Eurydice and Orpheus' relationship – never would've imagined I'd like them together again. This is a poly relationship with Charon, too, but Charon and Eurydice only start dating at the beginning of the book as well which makes it all a bit too unstable for me, there's a lack of foundation with Charon and Eurydice's relationship which makes it hard to believe that they're the stable couple here, the couple Orpheus yearns to be a part of. This was probably done to not copy the Patroclus x Achilles x Helen relationship but I don't think I would've minded a repeat of that! The latter seemed a lot more natural imo.
I've not been quiet about the fact that I'm primarily here for the romance, not for the politics. I still don't think it was necessary to turn a series that started as "Modern!Hades has a sex club lol" into "Here are the intricate politics and diplomacy involved in trying to run a Modern!Olympus". I love scheming just as much as the next person but please Katee, this isn't ASOIAF. All that to say, I've had my suspicions on who the Big Bad was for some time now and I'm both elated at the reveal and a bit disappointed that this is the route we're going for when this is supposed to be this great feminist retelling. Hope that resonates with someone and I'm not alone!
Loved seeing more of Hades and Persephone again, they remain the best couple in this series for me (with the best book as well) and it's great to see how Persephone's grown into her role as Hades' partner. With Charon as an MC we really return back to Hades' realm and it felt like coming back to my favourite dysfunctional home.
As much as the pet play was advertised for this book, it didn't play that much of a part! Didn't think I'd be into it (and I'm still not really lol) but it was fun and even if the actual play didn't have that many scenes there were loads of dog puns that I chuckled at.
Like other reviewers have said, I'm too far in to stop now – let's see how Roberts manages to fit BDSM into a more and more complex political story next...
I'm impressed by how Robert managed to redeem Eurydice and Orpheus' relationship – never would've imagined I'd like them together again. This is a poly relationship with Charon, too, but Charon and Eurydice only start dating at the beginning of the book as well which makes it all a bit too unstable for me, there's a lack of foundation with Charon and Eurydice's relationship which makes it hard to believe that they're the stable couple here, the couple Orpheus yearns to be a part of. This was probably done to not copy the Patroclus x Achilles x Helen relationship but I don't think I would've minded a repeat of that! The latter seemed a lot more natural imo.
I've not been quiet about the fact that I'm primarily here for the romance, not for the politics. I still don't think it was necessary to turn a series that started as "Modern!Hades has a sex club lol" into "Here are the intricate politics and diplomacy involved in trying to run a Modern!Olympus". I love scheming just as much as the next person but please Katee, this isn't ASOIAF. All that to say, I've had my suspicions on who the Big Bad was for some time now and I'm both elated at the reveal and a bit disappointed that this is the route we're going for when this is supposed to be this great feminist retelling. Hope that resonates with someone and I'm not alone!
Loved seeing more of Hades and Persephone again, they remain the best couple in this series for me (with the best book as well) and it's great to see how Persephone's grown into her role as Hades' partner. With Charon as an MC we really return back to Hades' realm and it felt like coming back to my favourite dysfunctional home.
As much as the pet play was advertised for this book, it didn't play that much of a part! Didn't think I'd be into it (and I'm still not really lol) but it was fun and even if the actual play didn't have that many scenes there were loads of dog puns that I chuckled at.
Like other reviewers have said, I'm too far in to stop now – let's see how Roberts manages to fit BDSM into a more and more complex political story next...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Toxic relationship, Gun violence, War, Death, and Medical content
ka_ke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: War, Classism, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy