Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
Dark Olympus #5
LGBTQ Contemporary Mythology Retellings
August 8, 2023- Sourcebooks
ARC

Review by Angela

Well, this book is hot. Like hot, hot. I mean, when I discovered this was an MMFF open poly knot romance, I knew it would be.

The series plot arc picks up right where the last book left off, with Theseus, now Hephaestus, about to join Aphrodite in an arranged marriage/ marriage of convenience of sorts. For the good of Olympus. But, this union is in name only, as the two are on different sides of a political struggle. Aphrodite determined to do whatever she can to protect the Thirteen and Olympus, and Hephaestus following the orders of Minos.

They’ve dragged their closest friends and lovers into the mix as well. Adonis, who still loves Aphrodite despite her marriage, and Pandora who has been Theseus/Hephaestus’s best friend since their days in an orphanage. There is so much sexual tension and attraction. OMG. Aphrodite immediately pulls Pandora into her web, at first using her to get to her new husband, but that undeniable attraction between the two is palpable. Adonis makes himself available to Hephaestus to help him acclimate to his new normal and hopes to protect Aphrodite, but the sexual pull between the two is wowza from the very beginning. I’m not even going to get into the relationship between Aphrodite and Hephaestus, which starts out as enemies and eventually turns into lovers.

I really enjoy this series. It’s like every time I open a new book and get sucked into the world I have to go to the author’s website to see what pairings she has planned for future books. It’s like a compulsion. I see relationships blossoming (Hello, Charon and Eurydice) and just can’t wait to see if I’ll get their story soon. I was waiting for this marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers for what seems like forever. Open poly knot? Even better.

But I did wonder how she would pull off telling four sides to a story in 350 pages or so. Turns out, alternating chapters works really well. I won’t get into plot specifics, because it’s ongoing, but I will say the ending to this book makes me wonder what will happen next. I was surprised and can’t help but think maybe another future couple I’ve been checking on will step into the Thirteen at a later date.

The Dark Olympus series is like an addiction. You just can’t help but pick up the next book in the series on release date. It’s messy and quite sexy.

Final grade- B-