The series conclusion to Katee Robert’s iconic Dark Olympus series has finally arrived, with a sapphic, enemies-to-lovers romance that answers all the remaining questions that readers have had for years. In Shattered Gods, we finally learn the truth about Hermes and the secrets that threaten to unravel this fictional, modern-day version of Olympus.
* This review contains spoilers for all the previous books in the Dark Olympus series*
Olympus has fallen, despite the dramatic efforts of the ruling The Thirteen. The ruling members of the city are scrambling to save what’s left of the city and to save their own families from Circe’s wrath.
Hermes, betrayed by Circe, has a plan for the city, but Circe seems to be one step ahead at every turn. Circe is dangerous, cunning, and Hermes can’t stop thinking about her, remembering what they used to have together.
Atalanta is determined to save Hermes at any cost, not that Hermes makes that easy. They’ve worked side-by-side in secret for years, hiding their feelings for each other. In a dangerous world, there was no time for them to fall into bed, not to mention Hermes’ lingering feelings for her toxic ex. But Atalanta will always protect her anyway.
Circe will do anything for revenge, and by the time she realizes she may have gone too far, it’s too late to stop what’s in motion. Olympus hurt her, and there are no innocents among The Thirteen. Not even Hermes, her former love, can change her mind now.
It seems like there’s no way out of this web of schemes for any of them, but underneath all the animosity and hurt, something more is brewing. Will Olympus survive this mess, or will everyone go down fighting a hopeless battle?
They’re in a sinking fucking ship, and they’re more concerned with their perception of power than filing to the offered rescue boat in an orderly fashion. I can’t save them all. I don’t even want to, if I’m being perfectly honest. The new crop is better than the ones who held the titles when I became Hermes, but that doesn’t mean anything. This is Olympus; it’s filled to the brim with monsters.
One thing that has remained a consistent feature of this series, and Robert’s writing as a whole, is their straightforward but detailed character descriptions. It is always so easy to picture the characters in this universe thanks to these no-frills, clear-cut descriptions.
Hermes is a character we’ve come to know throughout the series, but in Shattered Gods, we get to know her so much better while still maintaining some of her trademark mystery.
Circe is certainly the most complex of these three main characters. She’s hard to root for at times, and a true morally grey lady. Throughout the story, the reader is left thinking: how on earth will Circe possibly be redeemed here? Somehow, Robert pulls it off without entirely negating or excusing all her past actions.
This woman is a monster, and yet she’s still human, still carries scars on her body and soul the same way I do.
Shattered Gods is significantly less spicy than previous books in the series, thanks to largely dire circumstances, but what’s there is smoking hot and filled with passion and emotion.
There is lots of plot in this book. If you haven’t read the whole series, there will be things you miss. While prior books in the series could be read as standalones, this one cannot. There are perspectives from past characters, and all of their stories entwine to come to an end.
Throughout Shattered Gods, happily ever afters seemed at risk all over the place, but I had faith, and that faith was not misplaced. There were many loose ends to tie up here, but it all came together in a sweet and satisfying ending that felt like a perfect conclusion to a series that readers like myself have dedicated years of reading to.
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