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literarymary95's review
adventurous
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
bookishlucy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
This series seems to get better with every book! I absolutely devoured it! I thought the setting was amazing, I loved the competition and I enjoyed reading about the complicated emotions it brought out of Helen, Achilles, and Patroclus and how they navigated that together. Can't wait to start the next book š
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Sexism
apirlroge's review
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism and Death of parent
meeklovestoread's review
dark
funny
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Again I'm really surprised at how much I'm enjoying this series. This is my first polyamorous romance, but I knew it was one going in so I didn't really have an issues reading about it. I'm actually surprised at how much I enjoyed their dynamic with one another. I adore Helen and her determination to prove that she is more than a prize to be paraded around. She is more than someone's accessory and her behavior throughout this book showed that. I enjoyed reading her inner monologues about living under her father and her ambivalent relationships with her siblings Really wish we got more on Hercules though. I'm so curious about his exile and I feel like a talk with him would've really shed light on just how cruel Olympus can be. . I don't think the book did it on purpose but this book indirectly tackled the detriments pretty privilege has on girls. Honestly, I was rooting for Helen the whole time. I enjoyed witnessing her journey in battling her inner conflicts as well as gaining more confidence in herself and her worth. Also, loved her friendship with Eros. Glad we got little bits of him in here. Literally love him and Psyche (they're my favorite so far)!
I absolutely LOVED and adored Patroclus. I relate to him so much when it comes to being the brains. Always on edge. Always coming up with strategy. Always overthinking. I love his dynamic with Helen so much. The little emotional bits we got between them were so cute. You can tell how much he cares for her, especially through the little small things he does for her. His dynamic with Achilles was interesting for sure; I enjoyed them and their backstory, but sometimes I feel like their relationship wasn't balanced.
Now, Achilles, I liked 65% percent of the time, and the rest of the 35% annoyed me. I think he fits together in the group quite nicely. His rough around the edges persona really bounces greatly off Helen's stubbornness and Patroclus's sensitivity. I really enjoyed the whole enemies-to-lovers banter he and Helen had. Their first sex scene with one another was EVERYTHING! I'm not ashamed to say that it leaves rent-free in my brain. This is the type of enemies to lovers that I'm talking about. I usually would've been disgusted by something like that, but she had agency and she wanted it just as badly as he did and the consent was very clear. I admired that. It was raunchy, but it worked for them. Oh, and when he literally takes his shirt off and puts it on her so she's not walking around with ripped clothing; I just found that moment so sweet. I do like how protective he was of her. I like how he helped her realize her strength and I think it was real nice how she was able to lean on him for comfort sometimes. And even before Helen got into the picture I thought his dynamic with Patroclus was great.
However, his pushy ultra-dominant attitude unnerved me. Bedroom persona aside, he was INCREDIBLY pushy; it got on my nerves. He wouldn't listen to them sometimes and was extremely selfish a lot of the time.Like he wouldn't even let Patroclus have his "moment" with Helen (I hate how I worded that because she is not an object for their/Achille's desire even though he acted like it a lot of the time). I really wish he had an individual love scene with Helen and Patroclus. His overall possessiveness of them two really bordered the line from sweet to straight-up controlling. Him literally asking if he could "keep" Helen as if she's a toy he can bend to his whim unnerved me. The scene where he was getting off ordering them around annoyed me so much because I feel like he doesn't view them as equals and let his libido do all the talking for him. I understand he's dominant or whatever, but sometimes his behavior was veering real close to sexual assault and I most DEFINITELY didn't like that. And what makes it worse is that I hear in the epilogue that he literally decides to still keep their relationship open after everything. After literally sacrificing his job to be with Helen (and Patroclus) he still wants an open relationship?! Like what?! I'm sorry but there were moments where I just wanted Helen and Patroclus to get together because Achilles just got on my nerves! Also, it was never explained why Achilles or Patroclus decided to have an open relationship to begin with. Like it was obvious they were head over heels for one another so why not just make things exclusive? It was pretty evident that Achilles was the one mainly sleeping around so it makes me wonder how much he really loved Patroclus. I know I'm thinking critically over a book that isn't meant to be taken seriously, but I honestly can't myself. I'm a true Patroclus in that regard.š
I just hated how disgusting he could be toward them sometimes (this was pretty prevalent in the later half of the book). Like I can tell he cares for them in his inner monologue but he honestly doesn't know when to step down and just admit that he was wrong or admit that he cares for them. He wants to have his cake and eat it too (he literally says this) and ughhhh it was just too much sometimes. I was honestly waiting for Patroclus to finally to stand up to him and assert some dominance of his own.
I think that's my qualm with these books. They're fun reads (nothing complicated) and I enjoy them, but the characters lack character development a lot of the time and this is especially prominent with Achilles's character. Honestly, he's what kept this book from being five stars for me. Him and a few other things. I like to note that LOVE that consent and safe sex were prioritized in this book. With a relationship like this being careful in every regard is definitely key. I also like how the stakes in this book seemed higher than in the previous two.The challenges weren't anything crazy at all. And I kinda wished they were, but I know books like this aren't praised because of their effective world-building, but I really do wish it was fleshed out more. That's another thing that keeps me from rating these books five stars. I'm really interested in learning what the state of Olympus will be with this newfound knowledge of the barrier being weak and outsiders being able to come and go much easier than they did before. I hope we get some bits in the next book on how Helen is navigating being the new Ares and the whole power imbalance considering all members of the Kaisos family are one of the Thirteen now. Despite certain things in this book, I really enjoyed this one! It's my favorite in the series so far and I can't wait to continue it.
Spice Rating: š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø.5/5
I absolutely LOVED and adored Patroclus. I relate to him so much when it comes to being the brains. Always on edge. Always coming up with strategy. Always overthinking. I love his dynamic with Helen so much. The little emotional bits we got between them were so cute. You can tell how much he cares for her, especially through the little small things he does for her. His dynamic with Achilles was interesting for sure; I enjoyed them and their backstory, but sometimes I feel like their relationship wasn't balanced.
Now, Achilles, I liked 65% percent of the time, and the rest of the 35% annoyed me. I think he fits together in the group quite nicely. His rough around the edges persona really bounces greatly off Helen's stubbornness and Patroclus's sensitivity. I really enjoyed the whole enemies-to-lovers banter he and Helen had.
However, his pushy ultra-dominant attitude unnerved me. Bedroom persona aside, he was INCREDIBLY pushy; it got on my nerves. He wouldn't listen to them sometimes and was extremely selfish a lot of the time.
I think that's my qualm with these books. They're fun reads (nothing complicated) and I enjoy them, but the characters lack character development a lot of the time and this is especially prominent with Achilles's character. Honestly, he's what kept this book from being five stars for me. Him and a few other things. I like to note that LOVE that consent and safe sex were prioritized in this book. With a relationship like this being careful in every regard is definitely key. I also like how the stakes in this book seemed higher than in the previous two.
Spice Rating: š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Sexism and Gaslighting
shannnne_reads_words's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
just_one_more_paige's review
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0
Another vacation with plane travel, another well-timed "off the waitlist" situation for the next book in this series. Romances (especially steamy ones) are just the perfect easy travel reading, and this one *did not* disappoint.
The third book in this steamy romance Greek mythology retellings, Wicked Beauty departs from the family previously in focus (all of Demeter's daughters) and shifts to follow popular retelling favs Achilles and Patroclus, and everyone's favorite love-to-hate-her beauty-victim-villain, Helen. All three have entered a competition to become the next Ares, after the current Olympian holding that title dies. Achilles and Patroclus have been partners, in professional and personal life, for years already, and enter the competition as allies with much experience in battle and tactics and fighting. Helen enters to prove to the world that she is powerful in her own right, more than the predominant public view of her (and a bit to show up her brother, the new Zeus). She has been secretly training for this, but still comes in physically untested, though with quite a bit of knowledge about the inner workings and politics of Olympus. The sparks fly amongst the three of these competitors from the start, both the good kinds and the dangerous kinds. They may hit it off physically, and then even emotionally, but can they compromise through their opposing goals to find a future together?
So, like I said, this one didn't disappoint. I mean, the first two were solid, and what I wanted, if nothing particularly special (IMO). But this one? This one got me. I've only read one other poly romance before (A Dowry of Blood), so I'm new to this sub-genre, but I'm thinking it's a winner for me, because I have *really* enjoyed both. Like, the dynamics of the relationships, in this case it was a throuple, are fascinating, and intertwine with each other in complex and nuanced ways. I love the way poly relationships demonstrate that different people can fill different needs, that one person doesn't have to be your everything, and the support and fulfillment and interplay coming from these relationships with more than two people are just so....full. Like, who wouldn't want more people to share intimacy and foundation with? There's just so much more love to share there!
This was also, again IMO, absolutely the hottest of the series so far. Holy sh*t the sex scenes are long, prolific, detailed and steamy. I mean, the competition to become the next Ares gave a nice structure to the novel, a believable way for these three to be brought together, and a lovely source to bring (needed, for interest) conflict and drama to the story. And the action scenes added there were also entertaining. However, this was very much a "skim-read quickly through those parts to get back to these three together again" situation for me. Partly, honestly, because I was feeling the sex scenes. But also, for real, because I just loved the way they were with each other. Helen, Achilles and Patroclus each have their own strengths and weak spots, internally and externally, and the way the others protect and support and back down where needed in their own ways, and step up without prompting when they sense thatās whatās needed, filled my damn heart. I was so emotionally invested here. And that was really enhanced further by the fact that all three of their perspectives got a voice. I loved that.
There is nothing deep about this novel, but it was entertaining and smoothly written and super steamy - exactly what I was looking for. There is so much completion (pun intended, but also for realsies) in this throuple and itās too perfect. Robert hit something just right with this third book, and it's far and away my favorite of the series so far, and perhaps one of my fav erotica-leaning romances ever, tbh.
"Vengeance isnāt for the victims. Itās to make the people around them feel better for not doing anything to stop it in the first place."
"Maybe thereās room for both, for us each meeting a different need because of how different we are."
"I like the thorns. What use is a defenseless flower except to shove in a vase and let wither until its once-beautiful petals fall off?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
kylasmv15's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol, Abandonment, and Blood
withlivjones's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Yes, the best way to decide who gets to lead a cityās armies is definitely by playing Ninja Warrior lmao
This isnāt my favourite book in the series so far, but I still enjoyed parts of it. The action-filled plot was good (and it actually seems to be going somewhere! hooray for overarching plotlines) and I liked the dynamic between the three MCs once they got their act together and started communicating, but it took a Long Time to get there and ended up being a bit more love triangle-esque than I would have preferred. I love Helenās character and I enjoyed the chapters from her perspective, but honestly Achilles was just a jerk for too much of the book, constantly underestimating Helen and not seeing her as a serious contender for the title until the very end of the tournament. I did like Patroclus and I thought he was a good balance for the big personalities and ambitions of Helen and Achilles, but I feel like he became too much of a damsel in distress figure in the tournaments. The sex scenes are just as cringey as the other books, now with more positions that appear to defy the laws of physics?? But honestly despite all this the series is my guilty pleasure and Iām looking forward to the next instalment.
This isnāt my favourite book in the series so far, but I still enjoyed parts of it. The action-filled plot was good (and it actually seems to be going somewhere! hooray for overarching plotlines) and I liked the dynamic between the three MCs once they got their act together and started communicating, but it took a Long Time to get there and ended up being a bit more love triangle-esque than I would have preferred. I love Helenās character and I enjoyed the chapters from her perspective, but honestly Achilles was just a jerk for too much of the book, constantly underestimating Helen and not seeing her as a serious contender for the title until the very end of the tournament. I did like Patroclus and I thought he was a good balance for the big personalities and ambitions of Helen and Achilles, but I feel like he became too much of a damsel in distress figure in the tournaments. The sex scenes are just as cringey as the other books, now with more positions that appear to defy the laws of physics?? But honestly despite all this the series is my guilty pleasure and Iām looking forward to the next instalment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage and Xenophobia
things100's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Loved loved loved this book and Patroclus Achilles and Helenās story they are such a good couple the lgbtq+ rep š and the angst also just the fact that Helen is a complete bad ass give it a read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Toxic relationship
moodreadmoonchild's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
So so good. katee robert once again gave with both hands.
ā rivals to lovers
ā friends to lovers
ā MMF relationship
ā tournament/competition
ā an amazing plot with lots of spice
ā political intrigue
ā super fun and interesting action sequences
ā HEA
ā rivals to lovers
ā friends to lovers
ā MMF relationship
ā tournament/competition
ā an amazing plot with lots of spice
ā political intrigue
ā super fun and interesting action sequences
ā HEA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
emotional abuse, gaslighting and toxic relationship are not between the main characters but from the FMCās previous relationship. domestic abuse and death of parent are historical and did not happen to any of the main characters. FMC was witness to and affected by it. FMC experiences sexism and misogyny from several people around her through the entire story.