Rating: 4.0/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4/5 - Steamy with Mirrors)
Plot Rating: 📚📚📚 (3/5 - Fun but Predictable)
Let's be honest: if someone who was literally sent to kill you suddenly proposes marriage instead, you should probably run. But this is romance, darling, and specifically Katee Robert romance, which means running is the last thing anyone wants to do. "Electric Idol," the second book in the Dark Olympus series, takes the classic Greek myth of Psyche and Eros and gives it a modern makeover complete with Instagram influencers, motorcycle rides through a city you can never leave, and enough sexual tension to power the entire electrical grid of Olympus.
This book is what happens when you combine Greek mythology with "Gossip Girl," throw in a marriage of convenience, and add a hero who thinks he's a monster but is really just a traumatized cinnamon roll with a body count. It's the literary equivalent of watching someone try to convince you they're dangerous while simultaneously making you breakfast. Spoiler alert: it's adorable and sexy in equal measure.
If you've ever wondered what would happen if Cupid himself fell in love, got caught by the paparazzi, and had to fake-date his way out of a murder plot orchestrated by his own mother, well, buckle up. This is that story, and it's a delicious mess of family drama, political intrigue, and steamy scenes that will make you understand why Eros has so many mirrors in his penthouse.
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Plot Summary: Murder, Marriage, and Mayhem in Modern Olympus
Welcome to Olympus, a glittering modern city ruled by the Thirteen—powerful families who've taken on the names and roles of Greek gods and goddesses. It's a place where you can check in but never leave, where social media is currency, and where family drama can get you killed.
Psyche Dimitriou is the daughter of Demeter and a body-positive Instagram influencer. She's smart, strategic, and knows how to play the game of Olympus politics. Her life is carefully curated, and she's doing her best to stay out of the crossfire of her mother's ambitions.
Enter Eros Ambrosia, son of Aphrodite and her personal assassin. Eros is beautiful, dangerous, and has spent his entire life being wielded like a weapon. He's the one Aphrodite sends when she wants someone to disappear. He's also deeply traumatized, isolated, and convinced he's a monster.
The trouble starts at a party when Psyche helps an injured Eros. They're caught leaving a bathroom together by the paparazzi, and suddenly the tabloids are speculating about a romance. Aphrodite, who sees this as a personal insult, does what any reasonable mother would do: she orders her son to murder Psyche.
But here's where things get interesting. For the first time in his life, Eros can't complete his assignment. Psyche showed him kindness when he was vulnerable, and that small act has awakened something in him he thought was long dead. Instead of killing her, he proposes marriage.
His logic is sound (in a twisted Olympus way): if they're married and publicly in love, Aphrodite can't kill Psyche without it looking suspicious. The scrutiny of social media will protect her. Psyche, realizing she has no better options, agrees.
What follows is a whirlwind of fake dating, real feelings, wedding planning, Instagram posts, and increasingly steamy encounters as these two navigate their marriage of convenience. They have to convince everyone that they're madly in love, all while dealing with Aphrodite's continued schemes and their own growing attraction.
The stakes escalate as Aphrodite refuses to accept defeat, leading to a final confrontation that tests Psyche's cunning and Eros's loyalty. Without spoiling the ending, Psyche proves she's more than just a pretty face, and Eros discovers that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose love over loyalty to a toxic parent.
Characters: The Influencer and Her Reluctant Assassin
Psyche Dimitriou is a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. She's a plus-size woman who is confident in her body, strategic in her thinking, and genuinely kind without being naive. As a body-positive influencer, she's built her own brand separate from her mother's political machinations. Psyche knows how to play the game of Olympus—she understands that perception is reality and that her carefully curated image is both armor and weapon.
What makes Psyche compelling is her complexity. She's not just "the nice one"—she's a fully realized person who can be vulnerable and strong, strategic and genuine, afraid and brave all at once. She deals with fatphobia with grace, loves her sisters fiercely, and she's clever enough to outmaneuver even Aphrodite herself.
Eros Ambrosia is the classic "I'm a monster" hero who is actually a traumatized man desperately in need of therapy. He's been his mother's weapon for so long that he's forgotten he's also a person. Eros is beautiful, deadly, and absolutely convinced that he's incapable of love. His relationship with Aphrodite is textbook emotional abuse.
What's interesting about Eros is that he's not actually as dangerous as everyone believes. Yes, he's killed people on his mother's orders, but he's deeply conflicted about it. The moment someone shows him genuine kindness, his entire worldview starts to crumble. He's protective to a fault, surprisingly sweet, and has a kink for mirrors that provides some very creative intimate scenes.
The dynamic between Psyche and Eros is electric (pun absolutely intended). They start as wary allies, both aware that their marriage is strategic. But the chemistry between them is undeniable, and watching them slowly let their guards down is genuinely touching. Their banter is sharp and witty, their attraction palpable, and their emotional connection develops naturally.
Supporting Cast: The book features fascinating side characters, including Persephone (Psyche's sister), Hades, Hermes, Helen (Eros's friend), and the new Zeus. Each adds depth to the world and sets up future books.
Tropes: A Romance Reader's Dream Menu
Marriage of Convenience - Eros and Psyche marry to protect her from his mother, creating the perfect setup for forced proximity and fake dating shenanigans.
Enemies to Lovers - They start on opposite sides of a potential murder. Their journey from wary allies to genuine lovers is satisfying.
Fake Dating/Relationship - They have to convince all of Olympus that they're madly in love, which means public displays of affection, carefully staged Instagram posts, and lots of opportunities for real feelings to develop.
Grumpy/Sunshine - Eros is the grumpy, isolated assassin who thinks he's a monster. Psyche is the sunshine, bringing warmth and kindness into his dark world.
Touch Her and Die - Once Eros claims Psyche as his, he's fiercely protective. Anyone who threatens her will face his wrath.
He Falls First - Eros is absolutely gone for Psyche almost immediately, even if it takes him a while to admit it to himself.
Greek Mythology Retelling - A modern reimagining of the Psyche and Eros myth, with creative liberties that make it fresh and contemporary.
Forced Proximity - As a married couple, they're living together and spending all their time together, accelerating their relationship development.
Beauty and the Beast Vibes - Eros sees himself as a monster, and Psyche is the beauty who sees past his reputation to the man underneath.
Plus-Size Representation - Psyche is fat and confident, and the book handles body positivity with nuance and care.
Trigger Warnings: Know Before You Go
Katee Robert's books come with content that some readers may find challenging:
- Fatphobia and Body-Shaming - Psyche deals with cruel comments about her body
- Emotional Parental Abuse - Eros's relationship with Aphrodite is emotionally abusive
- Revenge Pornography - Referenced in backstory
- Sexual Assault of a Minor - Mentioned in past (off-page)
- Suicide - Mentioned (off-page)
- Alcohol Consumption - Characters drink throughout
- Death of a Parent - Referenced in backstory
- Murder and Attempted Murder - Eros's job involves killing, and Aphrodite attempts to murder Psyche
- Gun Violence - Present in the climactic scene
These elements are handled with care, but readers should be aware before diving in.
What Works: The Sizzle and the Sweet
The Chemistry - The sexual tension between Psyche and Eros is off the charts. From their first encounter to their wedding night and beyond, the attraction is palpable and the intimate scenes are scorching. Katee Robert knows how to write spice, delivering creativity and heat. The mirror kink is used brilliantly, and the scenes are frequent enough to satisfy without overwhelming the story.
The Body Positivity - Having a plus-size heroine who is confident, desirable, and never wavers in her self-love is refreshing. The book doesn't shy away from fatphobia—Psyche deals with cruel comments—but it also shows a woman who knows her worth and a man who is absolutely obsessed with every inch of her. Eros's desire for Psyche is never in question, and his appreciation of her body is genuine and enthusiastic.
The Character Development - Both Psyche and Eros grow throughout the story. Eros learns that he's more than his mother's weapon and that he's capable of love. Psyche learns to trust someone outside her family and to fight for what she wants. Their individual journeys complement their romantic arc beautifully.
The Banter - The dialogue between Psyche and Eros is sharp, witty, and genuinely funny. They challenge each other, tease each other, and their verbal sparring is as entertaining as their physical encounters. The humor balances the darker elements nicely.
The World-Building - The modern Olympus setting is creative and engaging. The blend of Greek mythology with contemporary elements like social media, paparazzi, and political intrigue creates a unique backdrop for the romance.
The Representation - Beyond the plus-size representation, both Psyche and Eros are bisexual, adding queer representation to the story. The diverse cast and inclusive approach to romance is appreciated.
What Doesn't Work: The Cracks in the Marble
The Repetition - Eros mentions he's a monster approximately every three pages. Psyche reminds us of the stakes constantly. After the tenth time, you want to shout, "WE GET IT!" The telling instead of showing becomes tedious and slows the pacing.
The World-Building Confusion - While the concept of modern Olympus is interesting, the rules are vague—why can't people leave? How do the Thirteen maintain power? The book expects you to accept the premise without fully explaining it.
The Pacing Issues - The middle section drags with wedding planning, Instagram posts, and internal monologues. While this builds their relationship, it can feel slow compared to the high-stakes opening and climactic ending.
The Predictability - If you've read any marriage of convenience romance, you know exactly how this will play out. The beats are familiar, the conflicts expected, and there are no real surprises in the romantic arc.
Eros's "Monster" Status - The book tells us repeatedly that Eros is dangerous, but what we're shown is a man who's protective, kind, and deeply conflicted. The disconnect between his reputation and his actual behavior can be jarring. He's more traumatized puppy than true monster.
The Villain - Aphrodite is cartoonishly evil without much nuance. She's vain, cruel, and willing to murder her son's wife out of spite. A bit more complexity would have made her more interesting.
The Verdict: A Solid Greek Mythology Romance
"Electric Idol" is a fun, sexy romp through modern Olympus that delivers on its promises of steamy romance and Greek mythology reimagined. It's not perfect—the repetition is annoying, the pacing has issues, and the plot is predictable—but it's an enjoyable read that will satisfy fans of the genre.
The 4.0/5 rating reflects a book that does many things well but has notable flaws. The chemistry between Psyche and Eros is excellent, the body positivity is handled beautifully, and the spice is plentiful and well-written. However, the repetitive dialogue, pacing issues, and predictable plot keep it from being perfect.
The spice rating of 4/5 is well-deserved. The intimate scenes are frequent, creative, and absolutely scorching. The mirror kink adds an interesting visual element, and the chemistry makes every encounter feel earned and emotionally resonant. It's not quite a 5/5 because some scenes feel repetitive in structure, but overall, the heat level is high and satisfying.
The plot rating of 3/5 reflects a story that's entertaining but not particularly complex or surprising. The marriage of convenience setup is executed well, and the political intrigue adds interest, but the overall arc is predictable. The middle section drags with wedding planning and Instagram posts, and the resolution, while satisfying, doesn't offer many surprises.
Who Should Read This:
- Fans of Greek mythology retellings with a modern twist
- Readers who love marriage of convenience and fake dating tropes
- Anyone looking for plus-size representation in romance
- Readers who enjoy steamy romance with emotional depth
- Those who love "I'm a monster but you see the real me" heroes
Who Should Skip This:
- Readers who need complex, unpredictable plots
- Anyone bothered by repetitive dialogue
- Those who prefer their mythology more traditional
- Anyone looking for truly dark or morally grey heroes (Eros is a softie)
Bottom Line: "Electric Idol" is a sexy, entertaining romance that takes a classic myth and gives it a modern makeover. It's not without its flaws—the repetition will test your patience, and the plot won't surprise you—but the chemistry between Psyche and Eros, the body-positive representation, and the steamy scenes make it a worthwhile read. It's the kind of book you'll devour in a day or two, enjoy thoroughly, and then immediately want to read the next in the series.
Just maybe don't take relationship advice from anyone whose mother literally orders them to commit murder. That's probably a red flag, even in Olympus.
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