The Nerd Daily had the chance to catch up with Katee Robert, the author of the eponymous Dark Olympus series that is inspired by Greek mythology. We got to ask Katee about their favourite parts of Midnight Ruin, the upcoming sixth installment in the series, their 2023 wrap-up and even got some writing advice!
Thanks for coming back, Katee! How are you and how did 2023 treat you?
Oof, it’s been a pretty wild ride! But I’ve gotten to write some of my favorite books in my career to date—and read some really amazing ones as well!
Lightning round 2023 edition: Tell us one highlight of the year for you, one twist you didn’t see coming and one thing you’re proud of!
The highlight of my year was finally getting a diagnosis on a health thing that’s been plaguing me for quite some time. Answers are worth their weight in gold! The twist I didn’t see coming was reading Haunting Adeline and Nicky the Driver and immediately deciding that I actually do like stalking books when in certain authors’ hands (and then starting a stalking book of my own to digest some of the feelings I got while reading those books). The one thing I’m really proud of is that I gave my first mini keynote speech…and bombed it, but then immediately did a secondary one a couple weeks later and nailed it. I can be taught!
What can readers expect from Midnight Ruin?
Readers should prepare themselves to…not hate Orpheus. The F-boy we love to hate has hit rock bottom and keeps digging, and so he’s in a pretty bad way at the start of the book. Toss in penance, groveling, some friends to lovers by way to Charon and Eurydice, and a dash of puppy play. Yes, puppy play!
I loved the dynamics of Eurydice, Charon and Orpheus. While you were writing their story, was there a favourite scene you couldn’t wait for readers to enjoy?
The scene where Orpheus paints on Eurydice at Charon’s direction. It’s a turning point for their relationship and for Orpheus himself, and it felt like such a great payoff—and it was fun!
Speaking of readers, what has it been like to see readers react to these novels and maybe even coming up with conspiracy theories?
It’s honestly really interesting because I joke that I’m a drunk white girl in the bathroom, and all I want to do is share ssssecrets. So keeping Hermes’s love interest under wraps until this book has killed me. But I wanted to preserve the surprise for people who hadn’t guessed it, and to allow the people who had to get the vindication of knowing they were right. I think “twists” are great, but there’s something lovely about the readers who have picked up on my trail of breadcrumbs.
Midnight Ruin is the sixth instalment in the Dark Olympus series and we learn a huge new piece of information about who has been meddling with the power dynamics of Olympus and the Thirteen. Without too many spoilers, can you give us a bit of an outlook of what’s to come?
Let’s just say that the final arc of the series is in play starting with the next book. We’ll see more of the threat against Olympus in action, but the pressure amongst the Thirteen is reaching a boiling point. For those who’ve been anxious to see more Zeus and Hera on page, you definitely get that in Dark Restraint.
Now, I know we still got a way to go until the end of the road, but there is a cameo of Hermes in this book that might just be a major clue to where the story will take us. Did you know from the beginning that Hermes would get a book?
Actually, no. This series was originally planned for nine books, but as soon as Hermes walked onto the page in Neon Gods, I was obsessed with her. I knew I wanted her to be more than court jester, and as things started to unfold in the next couple books, her goals—and her history—started to solidify in my brain. I can’t remember exactly when I made the shift to ten books and hers being the final, but I’m really excited to pen that final book.
If you could switch places with any character in Olympus for one day, who would you choose and why?
Honestly, probably Juliette. She’s been a side character in most of the books and you know she’s seen way more than she gives away. That appeals to me a lot.
Do you have any advice for those of us who might want to pick up writing as a new years’ resolution?
When you’re first starting out, any words are a success. Try not to compare yourself to people who are writing thousands of words a day. Take the pressure off and pursue joy and figure out the little details and wonky bits after the draft is done.
Next up in the series is Dark Restraint. Can you tell us a bit about what’s in store for readers?
This one is probably the closest to a “proper” dark romance in this series. The Minotaur is a murderer, not just playing one for the public, and Ariadne is forced into an arranged marriage that might not be the worst thing in the world, but her heart isn’t in it. She’s trying to prevent as much loss of life as she can…but both she and the Minotaur get pulled into the games of more powerful people. But expect it to be sexy AF!
Last but not least, do you have any 2024 book recommendations for our readers?
Always! One recent releases I’ve lost my mind over are Dark City Omega by Elizabeth Stephens. It’s omegaverse fantasy and feels like it was written exactly for me. It’s very spicy and the heroine is a stubborn survivor despite a lot of bad turns. The hero is kind of an ass, but he’s got a heart of gold. The other one that blew my socks off is Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones (and the first book, My Heart is a Chainsaw). They’re the first two books in a trilogy that’s a love song to slashers and, like any good slasher, has a lot of themes going on. Jade is one hell of a heroine and I simultaneously cheer her on and also want to just hug her and tell her she’s going to be okay.
