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emkschneider's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence
kylasmv15's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My favorite book of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
traceyanderson's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Violence
dolores_madil's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Grief, Murder, Car accident, and Misogyny
ka_ke's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
3.0
Eh. It’s no where near as good as Neon Gods, but it’s still good. I like a good mystery as much as the next reader, especially when it takes on a Clue plot.
I wish there was more character development behind Cassandra and Apollo, at least more than insta-love.
I wish there was more character development behind Cassandra and Apollo, at least more than insta-love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Car accident, and Misogyny
skudiklier's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I really enjoyed this book, as with every other book in this series so far! There's a plot point about the ending bothering me, that at first I was going to talk more about, but then I realized maybe I'm just assuming it would go a different way than it will. So it bothers me less now (but just in case anyone else was thinking about it I'll still put it in spoiler tags at the bottom haha). Anyway, I really liked this book! I hope she keeps writing this series for sure, as I always look forward to them.
Spoilers for the ending ahead!! Okay I'm just like. If Cassandra is the witness at the end won't that cause issues since that's why everyone hates her family?? Like that feels like a big deal for her to be the witness that causes him to take the title. I was waiting for that shoe to drop, like, since half the reason she didn't want to stay in Olympus/with Apollo is that she hates the games the thirteen play, all the attention on them, etc. I thought it would be a source of tension at the end that there would be more attention on her, etc. And maybe it's just that no one will know she was the witness except the thirteen, and they don't care?? Idk. I just felt like that bit was unresolved. Even if there was a throwaway line addressing how that went I would have been satisfied. But anyway maybe it just wouldn't play out like I was imagining it so this doesn't bother me as much as it did right when I was finishing the book. But if anyone else was thinking this too please dm me or something (@skylerwitherspoon on IG or @skudiklier on Twitter lmao) I don't know anyone else who's read this book.
Spoilers for the ending ahead!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Kidnapping, and Sexism
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Katee Robert is ACTUALLY a genius for this entire series. Radiant Sin is where, as a series, everything starts to come together, and in Olympus, everything starts to fall apart. The political intrigue, the viciousness and ambition and power plays… it’s all so brilliantly done. This book only gets more intense as it goes on, and for the last third, my heart was genuinely racing. I had no clue what the hell was going on. I felt like I was reading a thriller. I have no idea what to expect from the next book or where we’ll be by the time the final book is over, which is both fascinating and terrifying to think about. There’s a fine line between keeping readers on their toes and overloading them, but Katee never crosses it. She’s a mastermind. Taylor Swift wrote that song about her.
It’s hard to explain without spoiling, but there’s one character in this book that gives off such strong Mephistopheles (from Stalking Jack the Ripper) vibes. Honestly, the whole second half of the book felt very reminiscent of Escaping from Houdini (SJTR #3) in one specific way, and I just. I am floored. I am so unbelievably impressed by all of this. Truly.
I loved Apollo and Cassandra, and I especially loved seeing their relationship develop. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and Katee wrote it well. Watching these two try so hard to be good spies but fail miserably because they’re Horny™️ was absolute comedic gold.
The reason I didn’t give this a full five stars, though, is because I didn’t feel the same intense emotional connection to Apollo and Cassandra that I do to the couples in my Katee Robert Holy Trinity—aka the couples in books from her I have given five stars. They’re definitely entertaining, I definitely like them, and I like that they’ve got a sort of mutual softness for each other that feels unique to them, that separates their dynamic from dynamics other Katee couples have. But at no point was I kicking and squealing as I read because they were just so goddamn adorable, or feeling the urge to climb up the wall shrieking like a feral goblin because I was feeling all the things.This sounds demented, but like. Real fandomers get it.
Maybe I would’ve given this five stars if we’d gotten a Hades and Persephone cameo, because I’m so desperate to get an update on them but too broke for Katee’s Patreon. Maybe.
I’m kidding. Mostly.
Anyway, I did still thoroughly enjoy this book, and I’m EAGERLY awaiting all of the smut, shenanigans and imminent disaster that will surely be in the next few books. (ESPECIALLY Eurydice’s. 👀)
Representation:
It’s hard to explain without spoiling, but there’s one character in this book that gives off such strong Mephistopheles (from Stalking Jack the Ripper) vibes. Honestly, the whole second half of the book felt very reminiscent of Escaping from Houdini (SJTR #3) in one specific way, and I just. I am floored. I am so unbelievably impressed by all of this. Truly.
I loved Apollo and Cassandra, and I especially loved seeing their relationship develop. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and Katee wrote it well. Watching these two try so hard to be good spies but fail miserably because they’re Horny™️ was absolute comedic gold.
The reason I didn’t give this a full five stars, though, is because I didn’t feel the same intense emotional connection to Apollo and Cassandra that I do to the couples in my Katee Robert Holy Trinity—aka the couples in books from her I have given five stars. They’re definitely entertaining, I definitely like them, and I like that they’ve got a sort of mutual softness for each other that feels unique to them, that separates their dynamic from dynamics other Katee couples have. But at no point was I kicking and squealing as I read because they were just so goddamn adorable, or feeling the urge to climb up the wall shrieking like a feral goblin because I was feeling all the things.
Anyway, I did still thoroughly enjoy this book, and I’m EAGERLY awaiting all of the smut, shenanigans and imminent disaster that will surely be in the next few books. (ESPECIALLY Eurydice’s. 👀)
Representation:
- fat bi/pansexual protagonist
- Swedish-Korean bi/pansexual protagonist
- various Black, queer and/or fat side characters (includes bi/pansexual and asexual rep, as well as a MMF throuple)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
Things tagged minor occurred several years prior to the story, but are mentioned a few times throughout, usually in passing.knlipke's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I very much enjoyed this book. The underlying plot has become significant. Not to mention the spicy scenes are amazing. Love Apollo and Cass, they’re conversations are poetry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Grief
decklededgess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
trigger warnings: parent death, death, murder/assassination, physical indury, bdsm, bondage, sexual content, alcohol, emotional abuse, sexism
Oh man okay book 4 in the Dark Olympus and the book politics and world building are really ramping up in the best way possible. The events of the books are starting to bleed into each other, the conclusion of one impacting the beginning of the next. I love how the time just between Wicked Beauty (#3) and Radian Sin is about three weeks meaning the events of the trials are fresh. While the characters from Wicket Beauty aren't active participants of this book, their presence is there as we see the political drama unfold in the background of the romance between Cassandra and Apollo. And yes, the romance is still squarely the forefront of the story but the drama adds some delightful spark and mystery to the story.
I loved how the myth of Cassandra was adapted for this story. It's not adhering to the original myth of her becoming a clairvoyant whom no one believes but aspects of that story are relevant to the plot. No more on that because if you're familiar, you'll definitely be able to figure out the story. Other characters like Minos, Theseus, the Minotar, Ariadne, and more are part of the story in some minor capacity which makes for a fascinating concoction. Most of the characters are lined up in future books meaning their stories get more prominence there but it was cool to see how the seeds of those upcoming stories were planted not only in this book but back in the first book as well.
Yes these books are primarily smut and romance, a delicate balance that makes the romantic erotica subgenre, but the incredibly well thought out and planned world building and greater series plot makes this series INCREDIBLE. Can't wait for the rest of these books.
Oh man okay book 4 in the Dark Olympus and the book politics and world building are really ramping up in the best way possible. The events of the books are starting to bleed into each other, the conclusion of one impacting the beginning of the next. I love how the time just between Wicked Beauty (#3) and Radian Sin is about three weeks meaning the events of the trials are fresh. While the characters from Wicket Beauty aren't active participants of this book, their presence is there as we see the political drama unfold in the background of the romance between Cassandra and Apollo. And yes, the romance is still squarely the forefront of the story but the drama adds some delightful spark and mystery to the story.
I loved how the myth of Cassandra was adapted for this story. It's not adhering to the original myth of her becoming a clairvoyant whom no one believes but aspects of that story are relevant to the plot. No more on that because if you're familiar, you'll definitely be able to figure out the story. Other characters like Minos, Theseus, the Minotar, Ariadne, and more are part of the story in some minor capacity which makes for a fascinating concoction. Most of the characters are lined up in future books meaning their stories get more prominence there but it was cool to see how the seeds of those upcoming stories were planted not only in this book but back in the first book as well.
Yes these books are primarily smut and romance, a delicate balance that makes the romantic erotica subgenre, but the incredibly well thought out and planned world building and greater series plot makes this series INCREDIBLE. Can't wait for the rest of these books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Sexual content, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Violence
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