Radiant Sin

Radiant Sin is the fourth title in Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series. This story focuses on Apollo and Cassandra, and builds upon threads from the previous book, Wicked Beauty. At the end of the prior book, we learn that the barriers protecting Olympus are beginning to fail, and no one knows how to repair them. At the same time, Minos has arrived in the city bearing news of an outside threat.

In Radiant Sin, Cassandra works for Apollo, who fills the role of spymaster for The Thirteen - the term given to the main gods/goddesses of Olympus, though in this version of the mythology they are not gods but rather political figures. I really enjoy the different ways that Robert interprets the Greek mythology and spins it for her stories. In traditional myth, Cassandra has the gift of prophecy, but when she rejects Apollo’s advances, he curses her so that no one will ever believe her visions. In Robert’s interpretation, Cassandra is simply perceptive. She is on the outskirts of society and looked down upon by the Thirteen and others in power, so they don’t trust her or believe her when she offers her insights.

The Dark Olympus series is a romance series at its core, but Robert also excels in spinning a mystery that keeps readers on the hook. You never know who to trust, and the tension builds through the story. There are still a number of books left in the series, so there are more questions than answers at the end of the book, and I am definitely looking forward to watching things play out.

Back to the romance, though. Katee Robert deserves every accolade she receives for her ability to write a spicy romance - the chemistry between Apollo and Cassandra sizzles from the first chapter. After working together for five years, during which time both of them quietly fought their attraction to the other, they agree to feign a relationship so that Cassandra may join Apollo on a week-long getaway hosted by Minos. As anyone who enjoys the fake relationship trope might expect, they aren’t faking things for very long - once they begin acting out their attraction for the public’s benefit, they find that they can’t hold back in private.

I also appreciate that Robert makes a point of highlight size inclusion in her books. Cassandra is described as being plus-size. Unlike Psyche in the second book in the series, Electric Idol, who wore her size with confidence, Cassandra clearly finds it hard to believe that Apollo finds her attractive. I loved how Apollo earned her trust and got her to see herself through his eyes.

I’ll admit that I was underwhelmed by the previous book in the series, Wicked Beauty, so I was relieved to be back on solid ground with Radiant Sin. The spice is scorching, the mystery is engaging, and I’ve already gone ahead and preordered the next book in the series, due out later this year. If you haven’t given the Dark Olympus series a shot yet, what are you waiting for? It’s absolutely worth the time.