Tender Cruelty by Katee Robert is the penultimate book in the bestselling Dark Olympus series. This Zeus and Hera retelling is an enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance that’s filled with political intrigue and scortching hot sexual tension in equal measure. This series started out with books that could be read as standalones, but with these later installments, you really need to read the rest of the series first.
*this review contains spoilers for the previous books in the Dark Olympus series*
With Olympus at war, the Thirteen rulers of the city are facing down the most formidable enemy that any of them has faced, one that seems to spell certain death for the members of the Olympus elite.
As leader of the Thirteen, it’s Zeus who is responsible for fixing this mess. Perseus’ reign as Zeus has been a disaster so far. He’s been outmatched by Circe at every turn, and his wife has plotted to kill him more than once.
Callisto, the current Hera of Olympus, has a plan to get rid of her husband and take over the city. Her plan’s only flaw? She can’t seem to help herself when they end up in bed every night.
Hatred between them burns bright, but as Olympus collapses around them, they’re forced to reckon with the fact that their souls are more similar than they care to admit. But Perseus and Callisto must find a way to overcome the blockades in their path before it’s too late.
The relationship between Perseus and Callisto is characterized by jealousy, anger, and sexual tension. Both are adept at playing emotional games with each other, which is always such fun to read. They are two tightly controlled creatures that find peace only in each other, however begrudgingly.
Our marriage is two comets crashing into each other, the devastation intense enough to end worlds.
Even when they hate each other, their relationship is sexual from the start. It’s possessive and passionate, a study of the thin line between love and hate. Through all the angst, Perseus is a consistent consent king, and it’s a delight to read how careful he is with clear, ongoing consent.
Tender Cruelty is not as high in spice as some of the other books in this series. There’s no overt kink, and the sex takes a back seat to the plot and the overarching relationship dynamics. It’s still a spicy book, and the sex scenes that are there are perfection despite their brevity.
Katee Robert does a great job of catching the readers up on key events of previous books in the first chapter, which is essential as threads woven in previous books weave through this plot while pieves of the puzzle are falling into place.
Historically, the number one threat to Hera is Zeus.
This series remains a complete riot to read. It’s sexy, accessible, and inclusive for everyone over the age of eighteen. With each book, the plots in Dark Olympus get more intricate, but the stories stay short and digestible. Engaging and enticing with twists and shocking betrayals, Tender Cruelty delivers what makes this series so beloved.
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