It’s time for our Midnight Ruin book review, which means we can finally talk about Charon, Eurydice, and Orpheus in all their glory.

As much as I loved Cruel Seduction, I have to admit that I’ve been looking forward to Midnight Ruin since I learned which characters would be its focus. And let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.

Charon, Eurydice, and Orpheus have been a part of this series from the beginning, and their love story has been a long time coming. In particular, we’ve seen Eurydice through her sisters’ eyes, considering Persephone and Psyche have already gotten their books with Hades and Eros, respectively.

But it was refreshing to finally see the world from the youngest Dimitriou’s perspective. She’s been through so much since Neon Gods, and it was a breath of fresh air to realize how much she’s grown in that time. Her sisters may see her as the innocent one, the weak one, the one to protect, but Eurydice has transformed into a powerhouse in her own right, even if what she brings to the table looks different from what everyone else provides.

While a lot of that came from Eurydice’s inner strength, some of it was also at the hand of Charon Ariti, Hades’ right-hand man. We’ve also seen him throughout the other books, and I’ve been fascinated with his character since day one. I love a strong, silent type, and I was beyond excited to find out that he’d be getting his own book.

Unlike the others, Charon sees Eurydice’s inner strength. Sure, he’s protective of her, as he is with anyone he cares about, but he doesn’t want to shield her from the dangers of the world like her sisters do. He listens to her and grants her wishes whenever he can, as long as they’re not too dangerous or outside the realm of possibility.

We saw some of Eurydice and Charon’s relationship in the background of Radiant Sin because they were both at Minos’ house with Cassandra, Apollo, and the others. Part of me was hoping we’d get a flashback to this time because I know it would’ve been full of angst and longing, and I’m a sucker for that, especially when it’s followed by a happy ending. I’d ask for a novella instead, but we now know nothing transpired between them, and if I’m being honest, I don’t know if I can read a whole story where these two don’t lay a single hand on each other, especially after what we witnessed in Midnight Ruin.

That said, I was surprised when Charon and Eurydice declared their love for each other pretty early on in this book. Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler—because there’s so much left to discover after the fact. Sure, they care about each other deeply, but that doesn’t mean they can or should act on those feelings. And there’s still the little problem of Orpheus.

This is where Katee Robert shows her brilliance as an author. I was expecting this story to go one way, and it veered off in the opposite direction, much to my delight. I loved the subverted expectations, and it kept me on my toes, trying to guess what would happen next.

Much of those guessing games have to do with Orpheus, who has not had the best reputation since Neon Gods. He almost got Eurydice killed—as a result of stupidity, not malice—and has not been handling the breakup well. After Apollo cut him off from the family’s money, he’s been depressed and reclusive, unable to put his paintbrush to the canvas.

One of the biggest questions I had going into this book was how the hell Katee was going to get us to fall in love with Orpheus. Seriously, almost every character has shit-talked him at one point or another, and Eurydice is so easy to love, it’s not like it was hard to be on her side.

But I should’ve known better, and this Midnight Ruin book review proves that Katee pulled off the impossible. Orpheus has a lot of growing to do, and both Eurydice and Charon give him the chance to do it. Their new dynamic is mostly sexual, and it’s meant to get Orpheus out of Eurydice’s system, but she has a lot more trouble saying goodbye than she thought she would. And Charon can’t exactly deny his attraction to the man, either.

Related: Katee Robert discusses finally getting to write about pirates in ‘Hunt on Dark Waters’ (exclusive)

I don’t gravitate toward polyamorous relationships, but time and time again, Katee Robert has gotten me to fall in love with this dynamic. Midnight Ruin is no exception, and I loved how Eurydice is allowed to take the lead here. Charon isn’t submissive, but he has no problem worshipping the ground she walks on. And for her part, Eurydice learns to navigate a dominant role with Orpheus.

If you’re into second-chance romances, then you’re going to love Orpheus and Eurydice’s dynamic. There is a ton of groveling, which comes in the form of puppy play. I love that it’s often strict but never cruel—Orpheus has a lot to make up for, but Eurydice can’t bring herself to hate him for his mistakes. Meanwhile, Charon acts the part of her bodyguard, working to navigate that line between being overprotective and allowing her space to heal from her wounds. The three of them grow as individuals at the same time they grow as a group, and it was extremely satisfying to witness.

But I can’t finish off this Midnight Ruin book review without touching on the overall plot of Dark Olympus. I fell in love with these books because Katee writes exactly the kind of spicy scenes I like to read, but the plot has kept me coming back again and again. Not only is there an interesting arc for all the characters involved in each book, but every new installment in this series builds on the mysteries of its predecessors, and Midnight Ruin is no different.

After the events of Cruel Seduction, Olympus is more dangerous and unstable than ever. We’ve spent a lot of time in the Upper City in the last few books, so it was nice to finally make the descent back into the Lower City for a time, not only to see more of Hades and Persephone, but to get a feel for how the other half of the population is living.

The stakes are higher than ever, and there is more than one close call that will have you holding your breath in fear and anticipation. While we know none of the main characters will be fatally injured, there are plenty of side characters who aren’t wearing plot armor, and in a world like this, there’s no guarantee they’ll see tomorrow’s sunrise.

This is as good a time as any to say that if you haven’t read Medusa and Calpyso’s story in Stone Heart, you should do that before picking up Midnight Ruin. It was a complete coincidence that I did exactly that, and I have to admit that it was perfect timing and made their cameos all the more gratifying.

Last but certainly not least, I must let you know that we get the answer to a very big question by the end of this book, and I’m more excited than ever to learn what it will mean for the rest of the series.

Oh, and the end of Midnight Ruin also gives us the first chapter of Dark Restraint, which is a flashback to Ariadne and the Minotaur in the maze during Radiant Sin. And let me just say—holy hell, this book cannot come fast enough.

‘Midnight Ruin’ published on January 16, 2024

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Read my other reviews for this series: Neon Gods | Electric Idol | Wicked Beauty | Radiant Sin | Cruel Seduction | Stone Heart