The Dark Olympus Series is one of my new obsessions. Every book that comes out is fantastic and worth the read. There has been a good variety in the types of couples, including relationships, body types, personalities, and kink. Each book is a modern retelling of the Greek God's Myths set where the Gods are real but they are only humans trying to live in a city obsessed with them and the gossip/scandals they create.
These are extremely spicy books that keep you hooked from page one. I listened to all of these and I will warn you that it is not for the faint of heart. The relationships build with each book that comes out and I am so happy that my friends turned me on 😏 to this series. I can't wait to keep up with the series and go back and read her older material.
Title: Neon Gods
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: June 1, 2021
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
About the Book: Hades & Persephone
Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over but that's ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city's dark facade.
With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil's bargain with a man she once believed a myth. Hades spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he's spent years craving, it's all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he'll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close
Review: The first book in a series needs to do a lot of work, set up a new world a whole cast of characters, and make you fall in love with not only the main romance but get on board for it all. Boy... does Neon Gods do this in spades! Not only do you fall in love with Hades and Persephone but you come to love each one of her sisters and understand her mother's motives in the end. Leaving you wanting and craving more about the world that Katee has created.
This is the spiciest book I have read in a while and the scenes were crafted with such care that you can tell the author respects what she is doing yet doesn't take herself too seriously.
🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 5 out of 5 Peppers
Trope: Fake Relationship, Grumpy + sunshine, BDSM, safe word is pomegranate
TW: Abuse, Parental death (historical, off-page), assault/attempted assault, explicit sex, guns, blood
Final Thoughts: Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling. With Lore of Olympus, I have come to love the myth of Hades & Persephone and how Katee takes it and makes it her own while still staying true shows real talent and I applaud her! 👏🏼
Title: Electric Idol
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Release Date: January 4, 2022
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
About the Book: Eros & Psyche
In the city of Olympus, there's always a price to pay. Psyche knew she'd have to face Aphrodite's wrath eventually, but she never expected her literal heart to be at stake...or for Aphrodite's gorgeous son, Eros, to be the one ordered to strike the killing blow.
Eros has no problem shedding blood. But when it comes time to take out his latest target, he can't do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he marries her. But as lines blur and loyalties shift, she realizes he might take her heart after all...and she's not sure she can survive the loss.
Review: Out of the four books released this one is the tamest. I did enjoy the breather after the hotness of Neon Gods but looking back it is my least favorite, I still gave it a 4.5 out of 5 because of everything else the book offers so saying it is my least favorite is not really saying much.
I loved the relationship between Eros and Psyche and how he would do anything for her including standing up for himself and realizing his true worth and potential then removing himself from his abusive mother. This a wonderful message to show people that it does get better when you have the right people in your corner who love you for who you are and not what you can do for them. I also appreciate a plus-size heroine who knows what she is worth, just because she is a bigger size does not mean she deserves less love.
🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 4 out of 5 Peppers
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Fake Relationship, Morality Chain
TW: Abuse (emotional, financial), body shaming (ch 1, 3, 31), murder (off-page), guns, explicit sex
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed this addition to the series just not as much as the first one. If you like reading about a heroine who is not only a pretty face but also carries an ultra-big brain then you will like this! Also finished this book in 1 day if that tells you anything.
Title: Wicked Beauty
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
About the Book: Achilles & Patroclus & Helen
Review: After the original, this one is definitely my favorite! I have never read a book like this before and when I tell you that it is VERY easy to read, I would call this almost to the point of being binge-able.
I felt all the voices and perspectives of the three main characters were fully realized and distinct enough that I could tell which chapter belonged to which character from a random sample. I liked Achilles and Patroclus, the former is an impulsive solider with a chip on his shoulder, the latter a thinker to a fault—but, when together they are perfection, add Helen into the mix and you have a recipe for an amazing relationship.
The journey and world-building that comes from Wicked Beauty shows that this is not going to just be an average romance series. This is building up to be something larger, this series is going to take some turns that you would not expect from just a silly little romance.
This book is not hot! It’s fiery! It’s explosive! There are so many explicit, intense scenes that make you hyperventilate! The chemistry between this trio can burn all of Olympus!
🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 5 out of 5 Peppers
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, MMF romance, poly romance, open relationship
TW: Abusive parent, assault, attempted murder, blood, abusive ex, miscarriage (side character, off-page, historical)
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the hell out of Wicked Beauty. In some ways, it’s the most plot-driven of the Dark Olympus books and I LOVED it!
Title: Radiant Sin
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
About the Book: Apollo & Cassandra
As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player, Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.
On one condition: when the party is over, she and her sister will be allowed to leave Olympus. For good.
Apollo may be the city's official spymaster, but it's his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there's no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces... threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.
Review: This is a nice continuation of the story with Minos staying after the previous book's Aries competition. With this new development, the book did feel more like a mystery, who-done-it type rather than just a plain romance which is a nice change of pace. This feels more like a transitional book, moving from the individualistic, stand-alone first books into an interconnected plot-heavy direction. I think it will be fun and enjoyed the journey of seeing more of the characters and getting to know people outside of the 13.
I also didn't get to listen to this one as quickly as the others because I was traveling but I think that might have increased the appeal for me. This is a slow-burn boss/employee longing for each other for YEARS kind of romance. They both wanted to date but didn't want to make it awkward for the other person, we love to see the consent!
I enjoyed the smutty scenes but could have done with more of them. There seemed to be more plot and less romance which is good but I have come to love Katee's writing for her scenes. But I will say that the scenes we did get were hot, Hot, HOT!
🌶️ Spice Meter 🌶️ : 5 out of 5 Peppers
Trope: Fake Dating, boss/employee, plus-sized heroine, one bed, bondage, soft Dom
TW: Body shaming (referenced briefly, historical), murder, blood, guns, boss/employee relationship, explicit sex
Final Thoughts: This felt like the board game Clue and a Rom-Com had a baby, enjoyable if you have read the rest of the series but I would not start here.
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