*this review contains spoilers for the previous book in the Dark Olympus series, Midnight Ruin*
Katee Robert is back with another spicy contemporary Greek myth retelling in the Dark Olympus series, this time with Dark Restraint, exploring the love story between Ariadne and the Minotaur (for the record, in this series, the Minotaur is a human man). It feels different from the rest of the series, with the action on Olympus at an all-time high for this universe.
Ariadne is in trouble. She’s made a deal with the Olympians and promised herself in marriage to Dionysus in exchange for their protection. She’s running from her father Minos, and his greatest weapon, the Minotaur. But the Minotaur isn’t going to let her go with just a note of goodbye, especially not after she tells him that she was pregnant with his baby, and had no choice but to have an abortion.
On top of all that, Olympus is on the verge of falling. Circe is closing in, the barrier is faltering, and no one is sure who to trust. Even Minos is on the brink of losing it. The pressure is mounting, and things have never been more dangerous for the Thirteen, and anyone associated with Minos.
This scene was set at the end of Midnight Ruin, the previous book in the Dark Olympus series. Ariadne was using her hacking skills to give information to Eurydice, in hopes that she could save everyone from her father Minos’ madness. In return, Euridyce helped her procure an abortion.
These books probably can still be read as standalones if you really feel like it, but the further we get into this series, the more interconnected the books become. This book would not be anywhere near as engaging if you haven’t read the rest of this series. I highly recommend starting from the beginning before diving into this one, or you’re just going to be confused, bored, or both.
Dark Restraint felt significantly more plot-heavy than the books in the Dark Olympus series usually are. Often the plot surrounds the relationships and relationship troubles the characters face, which is absolutely still present here, but there is more action and more wide-sweeping plot movements surrounding the Olympian world as a whole. There are a lot of loose ends to tie up in the last few books of this series in terms of the overarching plot, but I’m not mad at it.
As a result, Dark Restraint has less spice than its predecessors. It is still present, but less overtly kinky, and the spicy scenes are more sparing. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but certainly unexpected. I found myself missing the wild sex scenes of the previous books, but I was engaged enough with the plot that it didn’t really matter. And the spicy scenes that are present are, of course, delightful, in true Katee Roberts fashion.
The Minotaur, whose real name is Asterion, is very brusque and brutish —sticking with the myth without making him an actual monster. Instead, he’s Minos’ hit man, who has only ever wanted one thing, and will do anything to get it. And that thing is Ariadne, a curvy hacker, who gives him hope amidst all the darkness he faces.
I let Katee Robert get away with so much, I swear. An author making fun of their own plot lines blatantly in a character’s internal monologue is something I’ve never quite seen before.
“If I read this in a book, I would throw it across the room in pure disbelief.”
But I guess life is really like that sometimes. And god damn it if I am not entertained.
The end of Dark Restraint sets up Poseidon’s story in Sweet Obsession, the next Dark Olympus installment, coming April 1st, 2025. I’ve already pre-ordered it, and that should tell you all you need to know about this series so far.
Spice: 3.5
Writing: 4
Leave a Reply