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lovemissjoan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Torture, Child abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Car accident
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
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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