REVIEW Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) by Katee Robert

Queen Takes Rose (Wicked Villains #6) 

by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

I’ve been on a recent streak of reading all of Katee Robert’s books, and Queen Takes Rose is the final installment of the Wicked Villains series. Aurora has appeared in all of the previous books, and now it’s finally time for her to take center stage. Once again, it was quite intriguing to see how the author took the skeleton of the original fairytale and twisted it to fit the series. However, for some reason, the female dominant characters that the author writes don’t seem to click for me as much as others. 

Aurora has definitely grown since the first time she was introduced to the series. I was intrigued by the dynamic between her and Malone and some of the references you can recognize from the original fairytale. Like many of her other series, this one has a connection to another set of books - specifically, Malone is connected to the Sabine Valley series (which at this point, I’m going to have to pick up and read out of sheer curiosity). In addition to Malone and Aurora, Katee Robert continues their trend of LGBTQ+ positive characters with a non-binary former Amazon serving as Malone’s head of security. 

Despite liking Malone and Aurora as individual characters, I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I flipped through their ‘scenes’ together instead of devouring every word. I kind of missed the types of scenes that Aurora participated in with the previous installments of the series (i.e. the Scene with Isabelle, Gaeton, and Beast in book 4). I also thought it was weird that Malone wanted Aurora submissive 24/7 instead of only when they were scening together (like the other dominants in the series such as Jafar or Hook do), but that might just be a lack of exposure to such characters more than anything else.  

Overall, Queen Takes Rose was definitely another entertaining book. It just wasn’t my favorite out of the series or something I’d see the need to reread in the future. Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jenny Nordbak did an excellent job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook narration. The Wicked Villains series would be a great choice for mature readers who aren’t put off by taboo dark romance stories that reimagine classic fairytales. 

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of Author’s Website): Parental Death (mother, comatose for long period of time and heroine makes choice to end life support), assault, explicit sex

About the Book

Once upon a time I made a deal with the devil. It turns out I like playing in the dark. Over the years, I’ve become someone I’m proud of, someone dangerous.

I’ll never be as dangerous as Malone, though. She’s one of the most feared leaders in Carver City, and her reputation is more than earned. Years ago, we had a single night together and she’s ignored me ever since.

Imagine my surprise to discover she’s scheduled me for the final two weeks of my contract. Maybe I should be afraid. Everyone else fears Malone. Instead, all I feel is anticipation. It’s time to balance the scales, once and for all.

The villains aren’t the only ones in Carver City a person should be wary of crossing.

Sometimes the prettiest flower hides the deadliest poison…

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

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REVIEW To Kidnap a Princess (Dangerous Tides) by Katee Robert

To Kidnap a Princess (Dangerous Tides) 

by Katee Robert

Rating: 3 Stars

Format: eBook (Dangerous Tides Kickstarter)

Publisher: Bonkers Romance

Katee Robert’s To Kidnap A Princess, part of the Dangerous Tides series produced by Bonkers Romance, promises a sexy swashbuckling sapphic romance tale. While the swashbuckling was definitely there, the romance between Juliette and Maura fell a little flat for me. 

As opposed to some of the other sapphic romances that I’ve read (including the one in Queen Takes Rose also written by Katee Robert), I never really connected to Maura and Juliette’s story. So much of their problems seemed kinda childish, and it was weird that with all the power that Maura accumulated in her rise to captain of the Kelpie, she never thought of smuggling a letter to Juliette so Juliette didn’t have to resort to kidnapping herself to escape her father. I liked the two of them as characters, and I liked all the side characters we met on the ship and on the island; their relationship just wasn’t compelling enough for me. I did want to note that for those who appreciate books with LGBTQ characters that Maura and Juliette are not the only ones present in the book; the author includes others such as a new non-binary character who uses ze/zeir pronouns. 

Like the books from the Peculiar Tastes Kickstarter, the books from the Dangerous Tides series exist in the same universe and share worldbuilding. Compared to some of the other books, To Kidnap a Princess spends a lot of time in Atlantis, and I loved it! Exploring Atlantis was definitely the highlight of the book for me. It was fun getting to meet all the different characters, like Eloise and Seiko. It was also fun getting to visit locations that have been teased like The Bawdy Banquet, and see some of the dangers that lurk in Atlantis’ waters (multiple different species of mermaids, including cannibalistic ones)

Overall, To Kidnap a Princess was an entertaining book but it definitely wasn’t Katee Robert’s best. Despite my reservations with the romance in the book, I was excited to learn more about Atlantis and be introduced to the character Bowen, who will be part of her series Crimson Sails (the first book Hunt on Dark Waters releases in November 2023). If you enjoy series that share worldbuilding but are designed to be able to read as standalone, this would be a a great choice. 

Content Warnings (Courtesy of the Author): Explicit Sex, Blood, Violence, Murder, Threat of Sexual Assault (Non-Explicit, Briefly Referenced), Near-Drowning

About the Book

It’s been ten years since the love of Juliette’s life sailed away and never looked back. The date they agreed to meet again has long since passed, and Juliette isn’t interested in waiting around any longer. So she kidnaps herself! Unfortunately, things start to go wrong immediately… Maura might have fallen in love with a princess as a teenager, but as an adult she’s all too aware of the obstacles between them. She’s the most-wanted pirate captain in the kingdom Juliette is princess of. It will never work. But when she receives a distress call from her princess, she doesn’t hesitate to ride to the rescue… But it’s not the reunion Juliette wanted. After saving her, Maura is determined to stick her on a ship home. Juliette is having none of it. She’s got a secret key to Atlantis…she just doesn’t realize the portal will take Maura and her entire ship, too. Whoops.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

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Check out my reviews of other books by Katee Robert!

REVIEW Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus #4) by Katee Robert

Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus Book 4) by Katee Robert
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Bought from Libro.fm0
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Katee Robert’s Radiant Sin, the fourth book in the Dark Olympus series, picks up after the events of Wicked Beauty with the power dynamics in Olympus once again shifting. New arrivals to the city have disrupted the usual ebb and flow, and a failing boundary system has left all of the members of the Thirteen desperate to shore up their power base and not show weakness to those outside of the city looking to strike.  

Radiant Sin gives readers a different viewpoint on the world of Olympus. Instead of most of the story taking place in the main city, Apollo and Cassandra journey to Minos’ country estate to attend a house party and try to determine his ulterior motives. The action that happens there is reminiscent of the board game Clue or the movie Knives Out, as the duo is thrust into an evolving mystery that they must solve before the ‘villains’ can make their move. The house guests add an extra element of fun to the story, as you have the ever-mischievous Hermes, the laid back party loving Dionysus, and the chaos-inducing Aphrodite (formerly known as Eris) as just a few of those present at the event. 

I’ve constantly been left amazed by the author’s creative ways of reimagining the Greek myths. Apollo and Cassandra’s roles in Olympus take very loose inspiration from the original tales. For example, there are never any references to poetry, healing, or music with Apollo’s role in the Thirteen. Apollo is also not a package deal with Artemis in this book (they’re cordial at best). There’s also no reference to Cassandra’s role in the Greek myths as the ‘mad prophetess’. However, despite the inspirations being loose, I do think Ms. Robert managed to maintain the spirit of those figures as well as their recognizability. 

Overall, Radiant Sin was an excellent read. Zara Hampton Brown and Alex Moorcock did an excellent job bringing Cassandra and Apollo’s perspectives to life in alternating chapters within the book (I really love all of the books they’ve narrated for Katee Robert). As with the other books in the Dark Olympus series, I would recommend Radiant Sin for mature fans of steamy, romance-filled mythology retellings. While Cassandra and Apollo’s story stands alone, a lot of the happenings in this book take up the story threads from Wicked Beauty and really set up the foundation for what should be happening in the next book, Cruel Seduction. I’m really excited to see Ms. Robert’s take on the story of Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and how she will incorporate Pandora and Adonis into that relationship.  

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author): Body Shaming (referenced briefly, historical), murder, blood, guns, boss/employee relationship

About the Book

There's nowhere more dangerous than Olympus...and no one more captivating than its golden god: Apollo. Keeper of secrets, master of his shining realm...and the only man I am powerless to deny.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Apollo and Cassandra that's as sinful as it is sweet.*

As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player...Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.

On one condition: when it's all over, and Apollo has the ammunition he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good.

Apollo may be the city's official spymaster, but it's his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there's no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces... threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

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Check out my reviews of other books by Katee Robert!

REVIEW The Gargoyle's Captive (A Deal with a Demon #3) by Katee Robert

The Gargoyle's Captive (A Deal with a Demon #3) 

by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 28, 2023
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

The Gargoyle’s Captive by Katee Robert, the latest installment in the ‘A Deal with a Demon’ series, is an enjoyable and steamy read (though it feels a little rushed). All of the events in the various books take place somewhat simultaneously so they can be read as standalones - this book focuses on the leader of the gargoyle territory Bram, and the human he chooses from Azazel’s auction, the former monster hunter Grace. 

“‘I’m sorry’. I smile even though my eyes are burning. ‘We keep saying that to each other, over and over, for our pains that words won’t fix.’ ‘Sometimes there’s nothing else to say.’”

Both Grace and Bram are dealing with a lot of trauma and loss. Readers get to see the events of the book from both of their perspectives, and how they connnect over the course of the book and bond over the past experiences. As one might expect from a Katee Robert book, the romance is trope heavy - some of the tropes you can expect are a monster romance, forced proximity, and a slight enemies to lovers take. There are of course, a lot of steamy scenes, and I was quite impressed by the author’s ingenuity with working Bram’s gargoyle attributes into those moments (the wings, the horns, the rock hard skin…)

Given the length of the book (slightly less than 200 pages on an e-reader), there isn’t a lot going on outside of Bram and Grace’s relationship. No new characters of particular import pop up, and there’s minimal worldbuilding. The build-up of the conflict and the reveal about Grace’s mother fell flat for me. I do appreciate the cameo from Ramanu (still my favorite character in the entire Deal with a Demon literary universe), but I was left wanting more from the book overall. 

If you want a quick monster romance book that you can finish in an afternoon, this would be a great choice for you. However if you’re looking for a longer romance tale, complete with extensive worldbuilding and in depth character development you might be better served with looking at another title on Ms. Robert’s backlist instead. I’m still invested in the series, but its not quite my favorite of all her books so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the final installments of the series, especially Azazel’s book The Demon’s Queen. Readers will be pleased to know that these books (at the time of writing this review) are available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author’s Website): Elements of Suicidal Ideation (referenced briefly), Murder, Blood, Giant Spiders, Dubious Consent (Agreement Given Under Duress), Violent Familial Death (Historical, Off-Page), Abuse (By Parents, Off-Page, Historical), Violence, Blood Magic)

About the Book

Grace is a monster hunter who went into her demon deal with eyes wide open. Years ago, her mother made the same choice and was never seen again, and the answers Grace seeks can only be found in the demon realm.

She doesn’t care that she’s auctioned off to a gargoyle. She doesn’t plan to stay with him longer than strictly necessary.

Unfortunately, she didn’t read the small print of her contract.

Every time she tries to escape, she’s transported back into Bram’s tender care. He never hurts her, never punishes her, just meets her fury with an easy charm she doesn’t know how to fight.

She doesn’t mean to give in, to stop fighting. But the moment she does, she starts to forget what brought her to this place and what her goals are. After a life starved of pleasure, she’s all willing to let Bram seduce her again and again…

At least until the past comes calling.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

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REVIEW The Beast (Wicked Villains Book 4) by Katee Robert

The Beast (Wicked Villains Book 4) by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: April 13, 2020
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC 

Check out the book on Bookshop.org

Check out the audiobook on Libro.fm

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The Beast by Katee Robert is another installment in the Wicked Villains series, and this one is a very loose reimagining of the tale of Beauty and the Beast. If you’re a fan of the series and read the books in order, you probably already know that the Man in Black was one of the biggest power players in Carver City and that he’s recently passed. The power structure of the city has become precarious, and the Man in Black’s daughters Isabelle is left to ensure that they don’t lose their territory in the aftermath of her father’s death. In doing so, she reaches out to both her exes and her father’s former lieutenants (Beast and Gaeton) to make a deal. Will she be finally able to make the choice they are asking her to make, or will things crumble in the process? You will be happy to know that she doesn’t have to choose and that the relationship develops into a glorious polyamorous throuple. 

Love is love, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Beast, Gaeton, and Isabelle are all bisexual and enjoy their polyamorous relationship. It was amusing to see the original fairytale retold in the form of a menage et trois or a throuple (as I said, it’s a very loose retelling). Despite being extremely committed to each other, they do enjoy ‘playing’ with others. EVERYTHING done in the books is consensual, and it’s so exciting to see that play out (for those who are curious, basically all of Katee Robert’s books have a heavy emphasis on consent and feature ‘consent king’ heroes). My favorite steamy scene in the book was where the trio had a scene in the Underworld with Aurora.   

Some might go into this book thinking that it’s all smut and no plot (and there’s definitely no shortage of smut), but I was pleasantly surprised to see how well thought out everything is, and how interconnected each of the books is (despite being able to read them as standalone). After reading this book, I’m even more convinced that I need to pick up Ms. Robert’s Sabine Valley series. This is yet another connection to those books (Beast’s origins are there), and I did feel like I missed out on some small details by not having that context. Looking at the bigger picture, my mind is blown by how interconnected the worldbuilding of her various series is - job well done there!

Overall, The Beast is another entertaining installment to the Wicked Villains series. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series! As with the other books, I would recommend this series to mature readers who aren’t put off by taboo, kinky dark romance stories that reimagine modern fairytales.  

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author’s Website): Parental death (father, cancer, off-page, historical), grieving, assault, explicit sex

About the Book

Once upon a time, I fell in love with two men. Their feelings for me were matched only by their hatred for each other. Gaeton, with his brash charm and casual cruelty. Beast, his lust equal to his penchant for violence. Being with them was sinful and perfect in different ways. In the end, I couldn't choose, and I lost them both. Now, my sisters have tasked me with securing our power base, no matter the cost. I will do anything for my family even if it means agreeing to the terms set by Gaeton and Beast. The three of us. Together. But only for as long as it takes me to choose one of them once and for all. When playing games of power, happily ever after isn't a priority. Not even for me. Especially not for me.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

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REVIEW The Kraken's Sacrifice (A Deal with a Demon #2) by Katee Robert

The Kraken's Sacrifice (A Deal with a Demon #2) 

by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: October 11, 2022
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

Being a big fan of Katee Robert’s Wicked Villains and Dark Olympus series, as well as the more recent releases of The Dragon’s Bride and The Demon’s Bargain, I had very high hopes going into The Kraken’s Sacrifice. Unfortunately, the short length and the unique dynamic between Thane and Catalina made it hard for the book to live up to expectations. 

Unlike Lenora or Briar, Catalina’s deal with Azazel is made to escape her life in the mortal world than a specific person (like Lenora’s vindictive ex or Briar’s abusive husband). She’s been beaten down so many times in the past by her family and past lovers that she expects life to be like that, and as such the contract (with a major do not harm clause included) doesn’t trigger the multiple times Thane messes up at the beginning of the relationship since she expects stuff life to be like that. To make matters even more complicated, Thane is still dealing with the pain of losing the love of his life, Brant. They have a very awkward relationship to start, but it does progress once they learn to be vulnerable and start opening up to each other. Despite the progression, it was much harder for me to connect to their relationship when Thane spent a good chunk of the book essentially hiding from Catalina. Once he stops hiding from her, and they actually start spending time together, things felt rushed. I wanted more heart-to-hearts, more kinky tentacle scenes, and more exploration of Thane’s kingdom, but alas everything had to fit into the roughly 170 pages of the book we were given and there was not enough time for everything. 

Katee Robert makes a point of writing inclusive romances, and I love it! The inclusivity featured in The Kraken’s Sacrifice was definitely a major highlight. Both Catalina and Thane have had past lovers across the gender spectrum. There’s also Thane’s sibling Embry, who uses the pronouns zir/ze. Given that this is my first exposure to those pronouns (I’m a bit more used to they/them), it was surprisingly easy to adjust. I also want to applaud Ms. Robert for how she handled the abortion scene in the book. It’s easy to highlight the happy moments in a relationship when you write a book, but it’s much harder to tastefully depict such a deep moment in any couple's life. It’s not graphic, but it does happen on the page and I was pleased to see that Thane was a very supportive partner to Catalina during the whole process. 

For those of you who may be familiar with the other books in this universe, Ramanu once again makes an appearance, and they are basically my favorite character in the entire series. They are in charge of the check-ins for each of the mortal brides that were auctioned off and despite their behavior towards each of the territory leaders, it's obvious they care about the humans to some degree. Given that The Demon’s Bargain also takes place in this universe, it was nice to see where that fits into the timeline and get another glimpse into Lenora and Ramanu’s relationship (I really want to see them annoy the crap out of Azazel in a future book). 

Overall, The Kraken’s Sacrifice was a largely enjoyable book, especially when you consider the larger ‘A Deal with a Demon’ series. If you want a quick monster romance read you can finish in an afternoon, this would be a great book for you. It’s an especially great choice for those who are looking for an LGBTQ+ inclusive read. However, if you’re looking for a longer monster romance, complete with extensive worldbuilding, large amounts of character development and the types of sex scenes Ms. Robert has present in her other books, you might be better served looking at another title on her backlist instead. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author’s Website): Abuse/neglect (mental/emotional, parent to child, historical), spousal death (historical, non-graphic, off-page), explicit sex, vomit (non-graphic), pregnancy termination (non-graphic), incidental injuries for magical purposes, grief, body shaming (historical, referenced briefly), reference to age play and to DDlg, slight dollification, use of unconventional gag

About the Book

Catalina only made her deal with the demon because she had nowhere else to go. The world has kicked her every chance it got, so she’s all too happy to leave the realm she knows behind. What’s the worst that could happen?

She doesn’t anticipate being auctioned away to a kraken.

Thane is cold and distant…but he’s not unkind. Isolated as they are, Catalina finds herself seeking his company again and again. And when she finally agrees to uphold her portion of the bargain?

That’s when things get really interesting.

But she only gave the demon seven years, and when the time is up, she’ll have no choice but to leave behind the kraken who’s stolen her heart and return to the world that doesn’t want her.

Check out my review of Ramanu's story in The Demon's Bargain

Check out my review of the first book in the series, The Dragon's Bride

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Katee Robert Author Website

Connect with the Author on Instagram

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