Dark Restraint (Dark Olympus 7) by Katee Robert-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 6, 0224

He was my savior. My monster. My obsession. My destruction.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Ariadne and her Minotaur.*

Ariadne Vitalis is in trouble. She’s betrayed her father—and his dangerous benefactor—and now she’s left to rely on Olympus’ questionable mercy. But in this city, mercy comes with a price. For Ariadne, that means a sham marriage to Dionysus. She has no choice but to agree, even if there’s only one man she’s ever wanted—a man she fears just as much as she desires.

The Minotaur never had any illusions about Minos’s plans. He was willing to get his hands dirty as long as the old man kept his word—at the end of their bloody work, the Minotaur would be given Ariadne as a reward. She’s meant for him, and he intends to have her, no matter the cost.

Ariadne knows better than to encourage the Minotaur—she’s all too aware of how hot a passion like theirs can burn. Besides, she can never forgive him for the terrible things he’s done, and he can never change. But when his hands are on her body and his wicked words are whispered in her ear, she might just be willing to let all of Olympus burn…

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REVIEW:DARK RESTRAINT is the seventh instalment in Katee Robert’s adult DARK OLYMPUS erotic, romance series-a modern day retelling about the gods and goddesses of Olympus. This is Ariadne Vitalis, and Asterion aka the Minotaur’s story line. DARK RESTRAINT should not be read as a stand alone as there is an ongoing premise throughout the series.

SOME BACKGROUND: Not all is well in Olympus. The barrier between Olympus and the rest of the world is collapsing, and the attacks in the upper city have become dangerous and deadly. The fight for power and control within the ruling circle of Thirteen has resulted in a number of deaths-someone is determined to destroy that which is no longer theirs to control.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ariadne and Asterion) DARK RESTRAINT continues to focus on the fight for power. Ariadne Vitalis’ life was spiralling out of control, and with her father targeting the people in charge, Ariadne begs for sanctuary from the enemy, but in doing so, invokes the wrath of her father Minos. Enter Asterion aka the Minotaur, Ariadne’s father’s ‘fixer’, and the man with whom Ariadne has fallen in love. A one night stand weeks earlier forced Ariadne to run from the man that she loved but the barrier between the upper and lower city of Olympus is failing, and Ariadne’s father is taking aim at the Dodona tower, the centre of power for the ruling of Olympus.

The world building is detailed and complex. The gods and goddesses of Olympus have chosen sides; chosen their heroes; chosen who is going to live and die. With each successive death, a new god or goddess is proclaimed, thus the fight for power becomes dangerous and deadly.

The relationship between Ariadne and Asterion aka The Minotaur is a second chance relationship, of a sorts.Ariadne and Asterion have been dancing around one another since their early teens but Asterion is Minos’ fixer, and his latest target is our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and colorful secondary and supporting characters including Her, Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes; Ariadne’s brother Icarus, and their father Minos.

DARK RESTRAINT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and madness, forgiveness and love .The premise is intricate and entertaining; the romance is fated and passionate; the characters are desperate, purposeful and stubborn.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Neon Gods
Electric Idol
Wicked Beauty
Radiant Sin
Cruel Seduction
Midnight Ruin

Please Note: The author has release several novellas and short stories that are not included in my reading order

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy