Dark Olympus #9

ARC and ALC provided by Sourecebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley

Author: Katee Robert 

Narrators: Zara Hampton-Brown and Alex Moorcock

Thanks, @sourcebookscasa and @dreamscapemedia for the advanced copies. 

Tender Cruelty is book 9 in the Dark Olympus series and just that is enough to tell you that it is  by no means a standalone.

Perseus (Zeus) and Callisto (Hera) are on a true enemies to lovers AND marriage of convenience situation here – believe me, as in she’ll literally kill him if the opportunity arises. However, it was in their ‘contract’ that an heir should be produced. So they hate each other by day and when the lights are off, all Zeus has to say is ‘Say yes, Hera’. It gives us a peculiar slow burn as they are banging their hearts out but only admit to true feelings at the 80% or so mark in the story. And then, my friends, it’s a top tier ‘touch her and die’ situation. 

I’m very very invested in the bigger plot that runs through these books and I gasped a few times with the plot twists (we all knew Hermes was up to no good, but geeze…). The fate of the Thirteen seems dire at the moment and I have no idea how this will end and I have a feeling that we will be even more surprised. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that I was disappointed with the fact that there was not a lot of focus on the development of Perseus and Callisto’s (not ‘gods’ names used on purpose) relationship, though. They were for me the most intriguing couple and sadly their story was in the background most of the time. I wouldn’t even say they have an HEA or even a HFN considering the state of affairs. We’ll see. 

The audiobook is narrated by Zara Hampton-Brown and Alex Moorcock and they were brilliant. If audio is your thing, definitely pick the audiobook! 

I can’t wait for the final installment! 

Rep: in Dark Olympus everyone is queer

Content notes: violence, pregnancy, abuse (child, historical, referenced briefly throughout), blood, murder, betrayal, PTSD, toxic relationship with family members

Story

Narration