Ariadne & The Minotaur

Who doesn't love a possessive, obsessive, and down-right menacing anti-hero ☝️ who treats his woman like the queen she most certainly is!?

Katee Robert is without a doubt my favorite erotica author for a reason. Her stories are smut with plot. They're compelling, immersive, addictive, and absolutely searing.

Dark Restraint gives us a peek behind enemy lines and the machinations of the benefactor. Ariadne, oppressed and secluded by Minos, betrays him to Olympus for a chance at freedom. Her defection forces her to leave behind the only friend she's ever had and secretly desires, The Minotaur.

Not only is The Minotaur enraged that she kept him in the dark, he's now been commanded to kill her. But how can he hurt the only woman who's ever shown him kindness, who sees the man beyond the monster?

**Minor spoilers ahead**

What I loved:
- Asterion, AKA The Minotaur: He's big, he's scary, he's deadly. He terrifies with a single look. Why use words to threaten, when presence is sufficient? He does what needs to be done to survive. But Ariadne is everything. Beneath the frightening exterior is a man who loves deeply. If you're not Ariadne or someone she loves, beware.
- Perspective: Ariadne and the Minotaur are pawns in the war between the 13 and the benefactor. They're taking control of their destiny. Much of the series focuses on the 13 and their petty politics. Dark Restraint shines a light on the lives of those used and abused by the power players in the war for Olympus.
- World building: We're finally getting more information about the benefactor's plans! The war in Olympus is reaching its boiling point and behind-the-scenes plots are revealing themselves. It's plots on plots on plots.
- Inclusivity: Ariadne is a plus-size, intelligent, strong, and vulnerable woman of color who loves herself regardless of what the world tries to force her to be. There are also non-binary assassins, polyamorous relationships, and plenty more.
What I would've liked:
- More of him Dionysus: He captivated my heart when I was first introduced to him, and I was hoping he'd play a bigger role in this book. As it stands, he's a minor supporting character that somewhat moves the plot along. If, like me, you were hoping for more of Dionysus, this isn't the book. Crossing my fingers that he plays a bigger part in Shattered Gods.

TL;DR

The plot is plotting.
The smut is smutting.
Katee Robert never disappoints!

I've been obsessed with the Dark Olympus series since book one and it keeps getting better.

If you're new to the dark romance scene, this series is a wonderful place to start.

**This book has TW, please read through them before jumping in!**

Book details:
- Main characters: Ariadne Vitalis (FMC) & Asterion, AKA The Minotaur (MMC)
- Style: First-person, dual POV
- Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
- Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶
- Genre: Dark romance
- Formats: eBook (NetGalley ARC) & audiobook (Audible)

Tropes:
- Strong FMC
- Forbidden love
- He falls first
- Touch her and die
- Morally grey (closer to black) MMC
- Marriage of convenience
- Virginity (minor)
- Stalking (minor)
- Greek mythology (Ariadne, Minotaur, Icarus, Minos)

Trigger warnings (incomplete):
- Abortion (off-page, historical)
- Non con. drugging (unrelated to SA)
- Dub con.
- Child abuse (off-page, historical)

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